In 2010 political events are expected to be developed as usual. The so-called radicals will say that the self-governance elections were not legitimate and maybe will start new wave of protest actions... But it is a big question will or not the people support these protest actions. They are sick as from the government as well from the opposition.
Is it expected or not the repetition of the political scenario of 2009 in this year, why the last 2009 year was unsuccessful for political minority and for what sake managed the government to avoid the deadlock situation after the April protest actions? ... Political scientist Irakli Sesiashvili discussed these questions with news agency GHN.

- The last year, in the view of political tensions was the hardest one. I do not even remember such hard situations. If we will consider that we overcome the August war in 2008, and accordingly alongside with the World economic crisis we had problems with resettlement of refugees and its provisions. At the same time we had problems with the Russian Federation in connection with some dangers which were not explicitly evident, but our government was frightening us with them.
What about the political situation and the reaction of the society, which was well informed, and clearly seen the events and mistakes of the government before and after the August 2008, they were adequate ones.

Our President was very frightened during the August war, and gave many promises, asking for the consolidation. But after the Russian aggression was not threatened to us, he changes the tactics and started to think about the strengthening of the power and its retention.
Unfortunately, the priorities for our government in 2009 were only the own political interests - to retain the power. The interests of the state were dragged to the third, fifth or seventh place. The government was able to deal with any dirty campaigns for retention of the power. It persecuted the political opponents, arrested them illegally. Many of our citizens were unfairly accused in treason. When the Mukhrovani army riot was blamed in coordinated actions with the Russian Army for taking the capital, this was a false and shameful accusation.

- It is a fact that the government always is breaking the deadlock situations. Do you think this is thanks to the tricks or because of the weakness of the opposition?

- The government uses all tricks and all dirty games. But it is not to be counted as fair and just, if we want a just and fair and dignified democratic state, not all ways are possible to exploit to achieve the result.

- What about the opposition. To the end of the year the rating of the opposition is not very high. What is the reason for this?

- What about the opposition, it should be said that it was the first time in the history of civil protests, that in the last year solid forms of the protest were fixed. The May 26 gathering we can name as a historic one. However the opposition did not achieve any result. The reasons for this were that the government turned the blind eyes not to notice anything. And as well many political parties, like the governmental ones, were inspired to achieve own desirable ends. They were not inspired by the idea of unity and country's interests. There was not developed the common strategy because its approaches were radically different from each other.

- Which political parties namely were inspired by the own interests only?

- All of them could not agree with main principal questions. First of all they could not come to the agreement in connection with the strategy, and this made unclear the situation for the population and inside the political parties such situation provoked rivalry and ineffectiveness of its actions.
At the same time the opposition made some mistakes in PR technologies, in connection with international organizations and foreign countries.

- Do you think that in such situation the society is a victim. As the opposition did not gain anything from almost 4-month protest actions?

-This was a process... of course; people are traumatized morally and psychologically, when seen that despite of the fight no positive results were achieved. At the same time the country lost the territories in the circumstances when the government is not taking the responsibility for such lost, and the opposition is not able to satisfy your demands with any result. In such situation the population is in a very deep trouble. In fact we are in such situation now.

- How do you think is the opposition able to rule the country better then it is done by the existing government?

- The politics is a gamble; it is not easy to make any prognosis, for example will be Levan Gachechiladze a good Prime Minister, who is a good leader and orator? I am looking at the situation from the different angle. I think that it is a time for Georgia to make new steps in the political life. We need a multicolored government, multicolored Parliament, where will be a balance of political forces. It may invoke a frequent tensions and changes and early elections, but...

- What doe You mean when talking about the multicolored government, which can invoke frequent political tensional and early elections?

- As a general rule, when in the politics the balance of forces exists, it is not a rare case when the decisions are impossible to take and it is necessary to appoint the early elections. Such a case was in Italy, this occurs in many European courtiers, among them in Israel. Here no Parliament has been till its expiration of the parliamentary term. Maybe we will have to pass this way. In such case we gain the experience of democratic ruling and the political culture will be developed.
But in the case when we factually have a mono party ruling, and we have a dictatorship in the country, we need a more balanced parliament, government. And in such case the people will be able to decide who has the ability to rule the country.

- Mr Irakli there is a perception that the events in the country are repeating with the same scenario many years. The early elections, the declarations of them as illegitimate ones by the opposition and the protest actions at the Rustaveli... And by the way one of opposition leaders Kakha Kukava said that if the self governance elections will be conducted with the falsifications, then the next one protest actions will follow. Do you think that it is necessary to change the scenario? To what extend it may be repeated again?

- This will end when the government and the opposition will start to think globally. But today this is a problem. I am repeating the 2009 was a year when the government and the opposition counted only own political interests, ambitions and in the last place in this situation were the interests of the state. For this reason our country suffered seriously economically, socially and in many other aspects. If we will come to the point that the acting main political forces will be oriented to the state's interests and accordingly will plan the development of our country, then there will be more chances that the democratic elections will be conducted in the country, and the real basis will be created for the development of our country in a democratic way. Today this chance equals to zero. Saying it simply, we should end the illusions that we are living in a democratic country, the ruling of which is democratic one. In fact here is a mono party dictatorship. And the democracy is only a façade.
The country cannot be counted as a democratic one where the government before all elections is changing the elections code and elections environment according to its own needs. As well not the elections appointed for the May of 2010 be a presupposition of peace and stability. Believe, me despite of the fairness of the elections in May the trust of society to them will be equal to zero. So, tensions will be expected as well in the next summer.

- The opposition said that the elections code is designed only for the government needs. Despite of this fact the most part of the political minority is going to take part in the elections. Do you think that the participation in such elections will be a right decision?
- I cannot say it definitely, as too much time is left to the actual elections. The situation before the May might be changed and the opposition forces may agree to some points. For me as for the politician it is major that the fight would be for the principles, I mean for the fairness, democracy, freedom and so on.... If the opposition understands the importance of such principles I think it should not be difficult to unite. But I am repeating when the parties are driven by the own desirable ends (not all of them) , it is difficult to predict, will they come to the agreement or not. However it is clear that the elections process will make it evident, are the political parties ready to fight for the principles or not.

- The opposition itself said that Gigi Ugulava will be the strong candidate in the elections. Do you think that any opposition candidate can make a concurrence to him?

- Definitely can. But here are as well other circumstances. The population is disappointed and thinks that the opposition candidate will not be elected. It may occur that the opposition inclined electorate will not attend the elections at all, and the result will be shameful. Following this it is very important the unification of the opposition forces and presenting by them of one candidate. Here is it necessary to think globally and in the interests of the statehood as I have said it earlier...

Lela Baghdavadze

GHN