UNM opposition Chair announces Political Council expansion amid calls for resignation
Levan Khabeishvili assumed the UNM chairmanship in January. Photo: Levan Khabeishvili’s Facebook
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Levan Khabeishvili, the Chair of the United National Movement opposition party, on Wednesday announced the expansion of the party's Political Council amid calls for his resignation by both current and former members of the group, citing concerns over an "incorrect policy".
Khabeishvili, who assumed the chairmanship in January, said the enlargement of the Council was aligned with the proposal put forth by Mikheil Saakashvili, the imprisoned former President, earlier this month. Saakashvili called for unanimity ahead of the next year’s parliamentary elections in the country and said politicians sharing his views could be part of the intra-party body.
The decision is pending an announcement from the Council, which was elected in February, expected later on Wednesday following its session.
The move follows vocal calls from former members of the Tbilisi regional organisation of the party for Khabeishvili's resignation.
Accusing him and the current leadership of UNM of taking "wrong steps" over the past 10 months, the members also demanded suspension of the "illegitimate" Political Council and creation of a new decision-making body to guide the party, which held power between 2004 and 2012, into the upcoming elections.
Further dissent emerged from UNM factions in municipal city assemblies across Zugdidi, Khobi, Chiaturi, Mtskheta, Kutaisi, Poti, Ambrolauri, Tsageri, Akhaltsikhe, Kaspi and Khobi, which, in a collective statement, called for Khabeishvili's resignation. Responding to the demands, UNM MP Tina Bokuchava stressed on Tuesday elections for the Council and chairmanship position could not be conducted several times a year.
Opponents of Khabeishvili reportedly support Nika Melia, the former Chair of the party, who has labelled the former a "puppet" in the hands of former UNM officials, including Saakashvili, former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and former Defence Minister David Kezerashvili. Melia has contended the former officials, “operating behind the scenes”, face “reputational problems” that could harm the party and its objectives.
Levan Khabeishvili, the Chair of United National Movement, the largest party in the domestic Georgian opposition, on Monday signed a paper during live broadcasting while claiming Nika Melia, the party’s former Chairperson, “no longer represents” the faction, but refrained from using the term “expulsion” in an ongoing controversy over the matter.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Saturday said the opposition United National Movement party was “facing a political end” amid inter-party problems.
Nika Melia, the former Chair of the United National Movement, the largest party in the domestic Georgian opposition, on Monday refused to become involved in a potential new board of the party and related talks, citing “informal influence” of David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister of Georgia, and Vano Merabishvili, the former Interior Minister under the UNM Government, over party affairs.
Nika Melia, the incumbent Chair of United National Movement, the largest opposition party in Georgia, on Monday lost the race for the position to Levan Khabeishvili, in an election that followed intra-party controversies over the recent weeks.