PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION UPDATE 04-21-2008

UNCLAS TBILISI 000676 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM GG SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION UPDATE 04-21-2008 REF: TBILISI 666 ¶1. Summary: Twelve registered parties/election blocs must submit their full party lists and majoritarian MP candidates by the evening of April 21. Once these lists are submitted, Georgia's May 21 parliamentary elections will be much clearer. In addition, the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) announced its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in agreement with all twelve parties/blocs. The MOU states that the GPB will give each party/bloc equal airtime and unbiased coverage in the pre-election period. Furthermore, the GPB will host two debates per week for the next four weeks. On April 21, Georgian daily newspaper Rezonansi published the results of a non-scientific survey of 800 randomly-selected Tbilisians. The paper's results showed 32.3 percent of Tbilisians are undecided. 21.3 percent supported the ruling National Movement and 17 percent the Joint Opposition (United National Council (UNC) and the New Rightists). Other parties trailed significantly. End Summary. -------------- Twelve Parties/Blocs to Run in May -------------- ¶2. Nine political parties and three blocs have registered with the Central Election Commission (CEC) to run in the May 21 parliamentary elections. The parties and blocs must submit their official party lists and majoritarian candidates to the CEC by April 21. The nine individual parties, and their chairmen, include: -- United National Movement (UNM) for a Victorious Georgia, President Saakashvili -- Republican Party, David Usupashvili -- Labor Party, Shalva Natelashvili -- Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM),Giorgi Targamadze -- National Party of Radical-Democrats, Shalva Kuprashvili -- Our Country, Tamaz Ghughunishvili -- Citizens' Political Union "Georgian Policy," Gocha Pipia -- Union of Georgian Sportsmen, Valeri Giorgobiani -- Christian Democratic Alliance, Giorgi Kobakhidze The three election blocs include: -- The Joint Opposition (includes the eight-party UNC, and the New Rightists),Levan Gachechiladze and Davit Gamkrelidze -- Traditionalists and Party of Women, Akaki Asatiani and MP Guguli Maghradze -- New Rights Alliance-Topadze Industrialists, Zurab Tkemeladze -------------- Public Broadcaster, Parties Reach Agreement -------------- ¶3. On April 17 the GPB released an MOU signed in agreement with all twelve parties/blocs. The MOU states that the GPB will give each party and bloc equal airtime and unbiased coverage in the pre-election period. Furthermore, the GPB will host two debates per week for the next four weeks. The first debate is scheduled for April 22 and the last for May ¶15. In addition, each week three parties/blocs will be given airtime on a separate evening to present their platforms. The first presentation is scheduled for April 23 and the last for May 19. Under the MOU, the parties/blocs agree to respect journalistic "norms and ethics" during their presentations and debates. The MOU also provides a grievance process to hold the GPB accountable for its actions and any bias, before the parties/blocs may resort to public attacks against the GPB or its employees. -------------- -------------- Rezonansi Conducts Unscientific Survey of Tbilisi -------------- -------------- ¶4. On April 21, Georgian daily newspaper Rezonansi published the results of a non-scientific telephone survey of 800 randomly-selected Tbilisians. The paper's results reported 32.3 percent of Tbilisians are undecided for whom they will vote. 21.3 percent of respondents supported the ruling National Movement, and 17 percent supported the Joint Opposition. The Republican Party received 6.1 percent of respondents' likely votes, the Labor Party 4.6 percent, and the CDM 4.3 percent. Of the respondents, 8.8 percent refused to answer, and 1.1 percent said they would not vote at all, according to Rezonansi. TEFFT