(nytimes.com) The stunning victory by a reclusive billionaire over the forces of the
West-leaning president in Georgia raises a host of questions. But before
they can be answered, the election itself is worth celebrating. It was a
significant achievement that Monday’s election in the small former
Soviet state was deemed essentially free and fair by international
observers, despite President Mikheil Saakashvili’s increasingly
imperious ways, and that both sides accepted its results nine years
after the Rose Revolution.
Still, the next steps are rife with dangers. Under a transitional
political arrangement, victor and loser will have to rule jointly for
most of the next year, and Georgia still has to find its place between
the West and Russia, with which it fought a short, nasty war in 2008.
Mr. Saakashvili will remain president for almost a year as Bidzina
Ivanishvili’s victorious Georgian Dream coalition takes over the
Parliament, with Mr. Ivanishvili most likely becoming the prime
minister. Next October, a new constitution will come into force,
devolving many powers of the president to the prime minister.
Until then, both men will have to somehow overcome the scars of a
vicious campaign in a culture not given to compromise. Even in his
gracious concession of defeat, Mr. Saakashvili noted that “we believe
that their views are extremely wrong.” And Mr. Ivanishvili called on Mr.
Saakashvili to resign, but later withdrew his demand.
Another challenge for the new government will be to lower tensions with
Russia without abandoning its Western ambitions. Mr. Saakashvili, who
took an unabashedly pro-Western stance, was completely spurned by
Moscow, especially after the brief Russian-Georgian war. Russian
boycotts of Georgian wine and other products have hurt the Georgians,
while Russia’s recognition of the independence claims of two Georgian
regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, remains a deep wound.
Mr. Ivanishvili, who made a huge fortune in Russia, was little known
even to Georgians before he plunged into politics a year ago, and
remains something of an enigma. He promises to improve relations with
Russia, and also says he will continue to pursue membership in NATO.
During the campaign, Washington wisely avoided taking sides. The United
States and the European Union must continue giving the Georgians every
incentive to build their democracy and to take their place in Western
institutions. But overt interference can only create unnecessary
tensions and suspicions.
Russia expressed hope that the election would help restore “constructive
and respectful relations.” For Russia, that would mean lifting economic
pressures and acknowledging that Georgia has its own hopes and dreams.
No comments:
Post a Comment