Burchuladze’s opposition election bloc split days before elections in Georgia
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UPDATED: 17.11
New Georgia, a civil platform chaired by former United national Movement member Giorgi Vashadze, has stayed within the Paata Burchuladze - State for People election bloc.
Vashadze announced his decision at a joint press briefing together with other bloc members, including bloc leader Burchuladze, several minutes ago.
"During the day we had conversations and consultations about different issues and I made the decision, together with my team, to continue fight within the election bloc," Vashadze said, adding he was confident the bloc would win the elections.
EARLIER: 12:18
One of the major oppositional election blocs has split 10 days before the Parliamentary Elections in Georgia.
Last night political unity Girchi - composed of former members of United National Movement (UNM) – announced it was leaving the Paata Burchuladze - State for People election bloc.
State for People is an election block led by internationally known Georgian opera bass Paata Burchuladze, who ended his musical career to enter politics in May 2016, when he formed the State for People oppositional political movement. Later, three other parties announced they would join Burchuladze’s team and create a new election bloc.
Girchi’s leader Zurab Japaraidze said the reason his party left the bloc was because Burchuladze had blackmailed him.
"This person [Burchuladze] was blackmailing me that if Girchi didn’t allocate a certain amount of money, its members would be removed from the bloc’s proportional list,” Japaridze said.
"Of course I said no to this. This was blackmail and he needed this money not for the bloc but for his own personal use.”
Japaridze said Burchuladze’s earned 60,000 GEL (more than $25,500 USD/ slightly less than €23,000) a month from this bloc. This income was steady and came despite the bloc’s financial situation being "very hard”.
Zurab Japaridze at the meeting with electorate; Paata Burchuladze on the screen. Photo: Girchi/Facebook
Japaridze said Girchi quitting the bloc meant the political group would not participate in these elections, but he vowed Girchi would remain in politics.
"See you at the next elections,” said Girchi’s statement released last night.
Meanwhile Burchuladze told local media it was his decision to remove Girchi from the bloc.
"Two hours ago I received confirmed information that this party [Girchi] is financed by [Georgia’s ex-Prime Minister] Bidzina Ivanishvili. I will not accept this. This is the reason [for removing Girchi from the bloc],” Burchuladze said.
The former opera singer added he would not accept finances from ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili either.
Girchi member Pavle Kublashvili denied the allegations about having financial ties with Ivanishvili.
"We didn’t even have any conversations about Ivanishvili either today nor before. Paata Burchuladze seems to be in a very difficult situation and he is trying to think of lies to get out of this situation,” Kublashvili said.
Paata Burchuladze at his regional tour within his election campaign. Photo: Paata Burchuladze/Facebook
Since the departure of Girchi from the election bloc, another party also in the bloc was now deciding whether to remain or leave the bloc, said Burchuadze.
This party was New Georgia, a civil platform chaired by former UNM member Giorgi Vashadze.
"We have no problems with Giorgi Vashadze. He just said he needs time to make a decision,” Burchuadze said last night.
"I didn’t get to talk to him. This issue will be decided tomorrow. I hope everything will be well.”
Vashadze has not made any comment about New Georgia’s involvement with State for People election bloc.
Meanwhile today is the final day when political parties can make changes in their proportional or majoritarian lists. The deadline is 18:00 this evening. After this the Central Election Commission (CEC) will approve the ballot text and begin printing election papers. This means Burchuladze must revise the State for People election bloc list and present the final version to the CEC by 6pm.
The fourth party in the State for People bloc is New Rights, a non-parliamentary opposition party. Members of New Rights said they would stay inside the bloc no matter who left it.
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