Interview with Mikheil Machavariani, member of majorities

Mikheil Machavariani, Vice-Speaker of Parliament, has broken two-month-long silence since Bodzina Ivanishvili’s appearance in politics. We began our conversation with assessing the studies carried out by IRI, the Institute of Social Studies and Analysis.  

M.M. – For us studies still are indicator of problems. Unemployment remains to be the main problem. We are working to create new jobs and solve related problems.

As for Iago Kachkachishvili’s studies (the Institute of Social Studies and Analysis) I don’t know who financed them. So far as I know it was ordered by a NGO that was created with assistance of Ivanishvili. When I know how Kachkachishvili’s study was carried out and who ordered it I will be able to speak about it. For this reason now I can speak only about  IRI’s study.

Q. – According to IRI, Saakashvili’s political team is followed by Ivanishvili’s political force.

M.M. – Those citizens who don’t go to the polls and who gave no definite answer are excluded from IRI results. Actually, we retained the electorate. Every opposition force but Christian-Democrats have bad rates. It means that introduction of this force brought down other opposition forces to naught but political processes are flexible – when a new player appears, somebody’s rates decrease and others’ increase. One shouldn’t rule out that when a new force acquires its shape, other political players may regain voters.

It’s important that benevolence to President is big. It’s quite significant as well that according to 55% of population, the country is developing in the right direction.

Q. – The IRI studies contain the press rating as well; according to it, ‘Kviris Palitra’ is leading.

M.M. – Among those who obtain information through newspapers, 68% named ‘Kviris Palitra’. 43% of the interviewed said they trust ‘Kviris Palitra’. When 43% of the population says that they trust a newspaper, it’s a very good result.

Q. – 300 thousand signatures requesting restoration of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s citizenship have already been collected.

M.M. – One way leads to the court, the other is request of restoration of citizenship addressed to the President. As far as I know, at the meeting with the representatives of regional media, Ivanishvili declared that he is going to address the President.

Q. – Presumably, Putin will use the tension in Tskhinvali for anti-Georgian provocations.

M.M. – If not long ago somebody in Europe used to take Russia as a partner, today Putin is a scarecrow. He won’t wage war at least for the sake of the Olympic Games. Russia has invested billions in it and its political elite won’t put it in jeopardy.