Christian-Democrat leader quits politics

One of the founders and a leader of Georgian opposition Christian-Democratic Movement Giorgi Targamadze has announced be will resign from his post.

Targmadze also stated he will leave politics.

"I’m sure life gives us alternatives. I hope I will be able to use my experience and knowledge in spheres that will not be less interesting and pleasant [than politics] for me," he said.

"And what is more important, I could be more useful to the society and our country.”

During his professional career, Targamadze, 40, was a well-known journalist in Georgia who worked for several local media. He also was actively involved in politics and founded the conservative Christian-Democratic Movement in 2008.

He opposed himself to the then-ruling party United National Movement, which was headed by former president Mikheil Saakashvili.

Targamadze’s party gained 8.7% of the votes in the 2008 Parliament elections, which made the Christian-Democrat party the largest opposition party and Targamadze became the leader of Parliament minority.

Many of Georgia's opposition politicians refused to consider Targamadze as a real opposition politician and accused him of being controlled by UNM.

The founder of present-day ruling Georgian Dream coalition called Targamadze’s political career as "an example of treachery”.

Christian-Democrats did not join the coalition and suffered major defeat in tbe 2012 Parliament elections when it gained only 2% of the votes.

Targamadze was publicly known for his conservative views. he condemned a pro-gay rally in Tbilisi on May 17 2013 and proposed to ban the possibility of gay-marriage in Georgia in the country’s legislation.

Targamadze ran as a candidate in 2013 Presidential elections and gained about 1% of the votes.

This upcoming election was a reason to leave politics, Targmadze stated today.

He did not specify how he planned to continue his public activity, but did not refuse a possible return to journalism.

The Christian-Democratic Movement are still a united party and will participate in the local elections in Georgia this June.

Targamadze noted the party were in talks of cooperation with other political powers and did not exclude it from forming a union with the Democratic Movement – United Georgia party, headed by Nino Burjanadze.