Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili leaves Republican Party

David Usupashvili, the current speaker of Georgia’s Parliament has quit the opposition Republican Party that he belonged to for the past 25 years.

Usupashvili announced his decision at a special press briefing held in Parliament building this evening.

"The party chairperson [and] the party founders turned out to have such political tactical viewpoints that are unacceptable for me. But I will not and cannot go against the realisation of these viewpoints within the party,” Usupashvili said.

"These views are unacceptable because in that case the party’s influence on the social-political processes will decrease; and I will not and cannot go against them because I deeply respect the significant contributions of the Republican Party founders.”

Meanwhile Usupashvili said he would remain in politics and would be individually involved in active oppositional activities. He added he would be able to talk about his future plans in about three months and in the meantime he would hold discussions with anyone who is "full of energy and motivation” and "had pro-western views and values”.

Usupashvili chaired the eighth Parliament of Georgia for four years since 2012.

He served as chairperson of the Republican Party in 2005-2013. In the 2016 Parliamentart Elections he was number one on the party list.