Levan Gachechiladze, 42, an opposition lawmaker with no party affiliation, has been nominated by nine opposition parties as their candidate for the early presidential elections, expected for January 5.
According to Civil Georgia, the candidate will be supported by the Republican Party; Conservative Party; Georgia’s Way; Freedom; On Our Own; Party of People; Movement for United Georgia and National Forum.
Opposition leaders said, Salome Zourabichvili, the ex-foreign minister and leader of Georgia’s Way Party, will become the prime minister in case of their presidential candidate’s success.
levan Gachechiladze is one of the founders of leading wine producing company GWS.
He was elected as PM as Vake district candidate. Election block: Block "New Rights "
Levan was a member of Parliament Fraction: "Democratic Front", Budget and Finance Committee;
Date of birth: 20 July 1964
Place of birth: Tbilisi
Maritial status: Married, wife and three children
Party: Non-party
Education: High
Educational organization: Tbilisi Iv. Javakhishvili State University
Qualification: Economist-mathematician
Levan's brother is famous Georgian singer George Gachechiladze (Utsnobi).
“I’m beginning a hunger strike with my friends,” opposition campaigner Levan Gachechiladze declared on November 6. “I won’t stop until [Saakashvili] resigns.”
Earlier a ten-party opposition coalition said business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili would not be its candidate for the January 5 presidential election.
“The national council of the united public movement, which unites ten opposition parties, will certainly nominate a candidate and naturally, this will not be Badri Patarkatsishvili,” Davit Zurabishvili of the opposition Republican Party told the Georgian Public Broadcaster
National Council of Unified Public Movement – unites representatives of the ten opposition parties to coordinate their joint public campaign aimed at persuading the authorities to hold parliamentary elections in April, instead of late 2008.
The parties involved in the movement:
Republican Party – leader Davit Usupashvili;
Conservative Party – leaders Kakha Kukava, Zviad Dzidziguri;
Georgia’s Way – leader Salome Zourabichvili, ex-foreign minister;
Freedom – Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, son of Georgia’s late President Zviad Gamsakhurdia;
On Our Own – leader Paata Davitaia (party mainly focusing on the Abkhaz issues and targeting displaced persons);
Party of People – leader Koba Davitashvili;
Movement for United Georgia – party was formed by ex-defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili, who has quit the politics;
Georgian Troupe – leader Jondi Bagaturia
Labor Party – leader Shalva Natelashvili;
National Forum – leader Kakha Shartava.
The movement was set up shortly after the arrest of ex-defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili
Erlier Labor Party announced that it wanted its leader, Shalva Natelashvili, to run for the January 5 snap presidential elections. “Labor Party’s political council [party’s decision-making body] has decided to nominate Shalva Natelashvili as a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections,” Soso Shatberashvili of the Labor Party said at a news conference on November 12.
According to Civil Georgia, the General Prosecutor’s Office said on November 9 that Natelashvili would face charges for espionage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. The next day it, however, softened stance and said “investigators have decided to question Natelashvili as a witness.” President Saakashvili said on November 10 that Natelashvili would not be arrested and he could “freely run for the presidency.”
According to Ria Novosti Russian news agency Natelashvili has applied for the United States to grant political asylum to his family, his party spokeswoman said Saturday. Labor Party leader Natelashvili, who is facing espionage charges, handed a letter with the request to the U.S. Embassy in Georgia.
"I fear pressure can be used against my family," the letter says.
Source: FINANCIAL, Civil Georgia
