Saakashvili to resign November 22

PanARMENIAN.Net - The political crisis in Georgia has shown the first signs of receding as opposition figures have overwhelmingly welcomed President Saakashvili's decision to call snap presidential elections for January 5.



Mikhael Saakashvili will, in accordance with the constitution, have to resign 45 days ahead of polling day - on November 22.



Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze will assume act as President until the results of the January 5 elections are announced. She used to hold the post after the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze up to Saakashvili's inauguration in January 2004.



"The president's recent address is of historic importance," Salome Zourabichvili, ex-foreign minister and leader of Georgia's Way Party, said. "This was the only right decision and the country will definitely benefit."



She also said that the international community "has played a vital role" in this process. "Our western partners have demonstrated that they are not friends of one particular government, but are friends of the entire country and Georgian democracy," Zourabichvili added.



The ten opposition parties which led the recent protest campaign signed a manifesto on October 17, which, among other principles, includes a commitment to support the establishment of a parliamentary system.



Two opposition parties - the New Rights and Industrialists - both outside of the ten-party opposition bloc - have not, however, signed the manifesto.



MP Davit Gamkrelidze, the New Rights leader, has also welcomed President Saakashvili's decision to hold snap elections and has reaffirmed his intention to run.



Other opposition politicians with declared presidential ambitions include Salome Zourabichvili, leader of Georgia's Way Party and Gia Maisashvili, leader of Party of Future. Zourabichvili, however, is ineligible due to a fifteen year residency requirement. She has only lived in Georgia since 2003, Civil Georgia reports.
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