Ruling party officials highlight significance of October parliamentary elections

Top officials of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Saturday speaking at an election campaign in the city of Ozurgeti in the country’s western Guria region highlighted the importance of the parliamentary elections scheduled on October 26.

Irakli Garibashvili, the Chair of the GD, emphasised that “people clearly see the significance of the upcoming elections and will choose peace, progress and development of the country”. 

“Amid the most difficult geo-political situation, our people must decide whom the governance of the country should be entrusted to [...] -  the guarantors of peace, freedom, stability and European future or that evil force [domestic opposition] who proved with their deeds that they want war and bring [back] oppression, chaos, fear and terror [in the country]”, Garibashvili noted.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said it was “hard to walk on the path”, where the sovereignty of the country, protection of traditions and national identity, irreversible development of economy, full protection of human rights, peace, progress and European integration of the country should be equally ensured.

The Executive Secretary also added the United National Movement “must be brought to justice” and “leave the Georgian politics”. 

Kakha Kaladze, the GD Secretary General, said “our political course has many internal and external enemies” though it “has more allies” in the form of the Georgian people, stressing this was exactly the strength of the country and the GD team pledged to keep the peace in Georgia.

He also pointed out that on October 26, the Georgian people would show their unity, adding the country would receive a “peaceful, European future” only with “dignity, freedom and pride”.

In his address, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said the ruling party had made its choice, the European way, long ago that was in compliance with “the values of our people and was “firmly rooted in our strategic vision, national genes and everyday life”.

The Parliament Speaker also noted that the domestic opposition was “directly involved” in the political campaign of Georgia's self-destruction, adding from the very first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they demanded an escalation of the political and economic conflict. 

He added that October 26 was the day of the referendum for independence and achieving peace in Georgia.