Top UNM figure says he takes political timeout

One of the key figures of the opposition United National Movement, Mikheil Machavariani, told the local media he was taking "at least 4-year political timeout.”  

Machavariani, who served as UNM senior member from its early days and was elected five times in Parliament, told the IPN local media "he could see no resource to do an interesting job for him even entered the future Parliament.” 

This Parliament will change nothing in Georgian economics,” Machavariani said ahead of the second round of the majoritarian elections scheduled on Sunday. 

After the first round of elections UNM managed to gain 27 seats in Parliament [out of 150-member legislative body], we are now fighting in the second round. If we obtain more seats its better new faces to enter the body from the party,” Machavariani added. 

Machavariani vowed to dedicate more time to academic activities and be active in social network.

Of course I will remain as a party member and an active supporter of the UNM. I may not hold briefings with the name of UNM, but I’m going to support the party in the future,”  Machavariani said. 

Machavariani,48, started his political career in 1994. 

• In 1995 he was elected as a deputy Parliament Speaker from a group  of Young Reformers, the group also included ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili and late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. 
• In 2000 Machavariani was appointed as Minister for Tax Revenues but quit the post in 2001 together with Saakashvili, who served as Justice Minister that time. 
• They both resigned to protest then President Eduard Shevardnadze’s governance. 
• Machavariani played one of the leading roles in the Rose Revolution in 2003, when Shevardnadze was peacefully overthrown and the UNM launched its nine-year governance until October 2012, when the Georgian Dream coalition won the elections. 
• Machavariani was a Member of Parliament in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2008 and 2012. 
• In this year’s  party list of the UNM Machavariani was 32nd.