Our people don’t really suspect that the forthcoming elections will be rigged
-- The pre-election campaign has almost been wrapped up; elections are only several days away and we can already talk regarding the strategies our political figures have employed in their pre-election campaigns. Could you expand on this issue by focusing on the core characteristics, faults and merits of the present election campaign?
-- If we compare the present elections with that of the already held presidential elections, we will easily conclude that the two elections are not really a far cry from each other. In both cases, the Georgian Dream Coalition has flaunted itself as a leading power and its political adversaries do not even think to vie for superpower. Today, as in the bygone days, besides the Coalition, each and every political figure contends for the status of key opposing force. However, they have faced really grave problems while trying to communicate with their people; they have not even exerted efforts to convey their massages to the public; they are completely oriented on the advertising media, however, in the 21st century, this obsolete method has completely lost its effectiveness.
- In the run-up to the elections, some observers define the parties involved in the race as a chaotic mix of voices each working to assert dominance. In fact, the public does not know a political party that has elaborated a serious strategy to advance the region. Have you also been left with such an impression?
- Actually, these programs and strategies have already been put on the table; however, the issue of if these parties have introduced their strategies and programs to their people is a horse of an entirely different color. They have outlined the country’s development plan on paper though; but if now you hold a survey, you will easily find out that our people dwell in complete obscurity; none of them will even manage to tell you what makes our candidates’ election manifestos different from one another. And frankly speaking for this ignorance we must not pin the blame on our people only; our political spectrum that has always been in a state of disorder must be held accountable for this earlier than others. However, it’s also a deplorable fact that our people have always been led by emotions while casting their votes for this or that candidate.
Rectifying the present situation by changing the people’s stance must be an ultimate goal of the Government as well as the entire political spectrum; if they fail to achieve this objective by the elections of 2016, we do hope that by the elections of 2020, the situation in this direction will have been changed for the better. As far as I can see, today the voters are going to enter the polling station to rid themselves from some parties rather than to cast their votes for their desired candidates.
- Allegedly, the election campaigns of our parties have lacked creativeness and novelty? Does this allegation ring true?
- The stiffer a competition is the more creative and interesting the pre-election campaigns are. On this particular occasion, the race cannot really be defined as tough and that is the reason why our political parties don’t seek to introduce any kind of innovation in their political campaigns.
- How would you assess the mottos and slogans of the key political rivals running in the race? In your opinion, how effective is one of the leading slogans of the Georgian Dream “Let’s Care about our Future Together.” Can this motto work for the Government that has failed to win its spur thus far?
- A Slogan such as “Let’s Care about our Future Together” can be defined as extremely general; neither is it showy or eye-catching. However, this motto can be labeled as interesting because of the fact that it appeals to the public to get involved in the political life of Georgia; it’s beyond doubt that this slogan is tailored for the self-Government elections. And against this background, it can easily be defined as smart and handy. As the latest surveys have it, the people have been extremely distanced from local self-government bodies. In fact, the offer to get involved in the ongoing political processes is a bit obscure; however, it does not bear a negative connotation; neither has it annoyed the public in the slightest… Whether or not the Government has succeeded in delivering its prime motto to the public will become known in a few days.
- The actual fact is that the National Movement has aimed to hammer into the public’s head an idea as per which the country dwells in complete stagnation; and, accordingly, their slogans “Dream Government does not Work,” “Let’s Make Georgia Work,” served this particular purpose …
- A motto “Let’s Make Georgia Work” is extremely well thought out as it covers all our vulnerable issues: firstly, problems are ubiquitous in Georgia and many of our compatriots are unemployed. The opinion polls do also clearly say that employment is one of the key priorities of the Georgian people. Secondly, the political power having created this slogan has flaunted itself as a force that can “make Georgia work.” On top of that, this slogan denigrates the acting government by making an exhibition of the strong points of the political force that allegedly can lead Georgia out of stagnation. In a nutshell, thanks to this motto, the Nationals have taken a step in the right direction; as the motto itself implies a promise; as for their other mottos “Dream Government does not Work,” “We search for 100 Factories” they are tailored for those electorate that are discontented with the present Government.
- The National’s allegation saying that they forced 50 people to withdraw their candidatures have hit the bull’s eye and sparked a backlash from our people. The NGOs have issued a slew of critical statements regarding this matter. It is difficult to predict whether the National’s PR campaign proves successful, however, the actual fact is that the information space agenda has been formed by the Nationals and not the Coalition. Time has already told us the elaboration of their own information policy does not fall in the Government’s plans. Do you share this position?
-Extremely negative events have taken place in the run-up to the elections and this has sparked outcry from our people as well as our allied countries. The Government and CEC have made an absolutely right decision in terms of the Nationals’ candidate. Our election legislation is really fraught with a number of shortfalls and the Government was obliged to eradicate them. Unfortunately, the election code covers some faulty articles that play into the hands of the Nationals as well as other political opponents of the Government. As for the Nationals’ eagerness to formulate the information space agenda, if we look back across the 20 months, we will easily conclude that the Nationals have really played a leading part in this direction; however, the situation has recently changed for the better… The time when the Government must adopt a tool with which it will show itself as a leading player and chief creator of the information space has already come. The elections of 2016 are not expected to be as lax and peaceful as that of 2013. And against this background, the government will, by all odds, find it difficult to win its seat in the elections without forming its information space.
-How would you gauge the slogans – “It’s time to set order in our Country”, “Don’t Make a Choice between Bad and Worse” -- from Burjanadze-Democrats party?
-I can unabashedly state that their slogans are some of the best that we have ever witnessed. Their slogans cover many acute issues by making it clear that today the country is in a state of anarchy and this party can ameliorate the situation. Setting and maintaining order in the country can involve: creating jobs, increasing our economy, environment protection, tackling social problems as well as other paramount issues.
I would also like to draw you attention to Burjanadze’s aptitude to communicate with the people. At the presidential elections, Burjanadze managed to sweep a number of votes; however, later she lost the tool enabling her to make contact with the public and this has obviously undercut the confidence the people have placed in her team. Thus, Burjanadze is an active political figure only in the run-up to the elections; then she becomes lax and indifferent; and this does not really work for her. We have faced a similar picture in other parties too; this allegation is not applicable to the Nationals who are well aware of the fact that information space is as important in the run-up to the elections as after it.
- How big is the chance that the forthcoming elections will be rigged?
-- In fact, we have already witnessed elections held by the Georgian Dream; and these elections really have not given us any foundation to think that they might have been rigged. Thus, in the present state of affairs, am deeply convinced that the elections will not be rigged. The opinion polls having been held thus far can also back up my allegation.
- What can you say regarding the outcome of the forthcoming elections?
-It is not necessary to be an expert to state that the first, second and third positions will be shared precisely in that way they were shared in the presidential elections. Thus, in the upcoming elections, Georgian Dream will meet with victory; the second place will go to the Nationals and the third – to Burjanadze-Democrats.
Koba Bendeliani
InterPressNews
