Opposition European Georgia party MPs refuse to take up mandates in parliament
The opposition has plans to take to the streets and demand repeat elections. Photo: netgazeti.
Tweet 
Share
The European Georgia opposition party, which has received five mandates in the 150-member parliament, has refused to have its MPs take up their mandates in parliament and participate in the election run-off on November 21 in several majoritarian constituencies.
The party members have stated that the Georgian Dream government has fabricated the elections ‘with the help of state agencies and criminal groups’.
Entering the parliament will equal joining the Georgian Dream party and will mean the legitimation of the illegitimate elections,” one of the leaders of the party Gigi Ugulava said.
He stated that the opposition will take to the streets on November 8.
- Why are the October 31 parliament elections so special? All you need to know about the race
- Elections 2020 results in real time on interactive map of Georgia
The United National Movement opposition party, which received 34 mandates in the elections, also says that they will not enter the legislative body, like the members of five of nine political parties who have overcome the one per cent election threshold in the proportional elections.
Taking to the street is the right decision to exercise pressure on the government and make them admit their guilt (that they fabricated the elections),” Girchi leader Zurab Japaridze said.
Now the opposition members are meeting the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission.
Former Vice Speaker of parliament Tamar Chugoshvili says that the opposition will make a 'big mistake' if they will not enter parliament as the elections have international legitimation. Photo: parliament of Georgia press office.
International observers and embassies have stated that the elections were ‘mostly competitive and free.’
- US Embassy welcomes ‘competitive’ Georgian elections, laments ‘deficiencies’
- MEPs of the EU parliament: 'elections were competitive, freedoms were respected'
- Int'l reactions to Georgian parliamentary elections in tweets
- Lithuanian MFA welcomes ‘important step’ of Georgian elections
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that the opposition has failed to accept the election results in a dignified manner.
Former Parliament Vice-Speaker Tamar Chugoshvili says that the opposition will make a ‘big mistake’ if they refuse to enter the parliament.
The elections have international legitimation and neither people nor the international community will understand why the opposition refuses to enter the legislative body,” Chugoshvili said.
She also said that the opposition has taken more mandates in the elections than ever and their being in parliament will make a difference.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has counted all votes cast in Saturday’s parliamentary elections. Nine parties have crossed the one per cent threshold to make it into the 150-member parliament per the proportional electoral system (120 seats in the legislative body). In the majoritarian elections the ruling Georgian Dream candidates has won 14 of 30 majoritarian constituences. A run-off will be held in 16 majoritarian constituencies on November 21, where the ruling Georgian Dream candidates won the race in 15 (of 16) constituencies, however, they were unable to receive at least 51% of total votes.
MEPs on EU-Georgia relations from the European Parliament have congratulated Georgia, 'a key ally of the EU', on 'successfully' organising the first round of the parliamentary elections held on October 31 in Georgia despite ‘the difficult epidemiological context'.
Georgia's foreign minister David Zalkaliani expressed gratitude to the country's international partners for sending their observers for the parliamentary elections held on Saturday and pointed out their support for "further consolidation of democracy in Georgia".
The United States Embassy in Georgia has welcomed the recent "competitive" parliamentary elections in the country and applauded citizens for their turnout against the backdrop of the pandemic, while also pointing out "deficiencies" in the process that require resolution by the authorities.
The Georgian Central Election Commission has responded to a report that in eight per cent of polling stations, ballot papers outnumbered voters’ signatures on the list.
MPs of the Lelo and Alliance of Patriots opposition parties have refused to take up their mandates in parliament.
Former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen has written on his Facebook page in Georgian that Saturday's parliamentary elections in Georgia were ‘competitive and free’ and that the elections once again showed the commitment of the Georgian people to Euro-Atlantic integration.
All eight opposition parties who crossed the one per cent election threshold in the October 31 parliament elections have signed an agreement earlier today not to take up their mandates in parliament. 12 other opposition parties, who were unable to enter the legislative body, also signed the agreement and stated that the elections ‘were not legitimate as they were fabricated.’ All 20 signatory parties have stated that they will continue to fight against the government.
Former President of Georgia, Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili, has urged people to join the opposition rally on November 8 in Tbilisi despite the recent surge in coronavirus cases.
Members of all nine political parties which entered parliament following the October 31 parliamentary elections have held a first meeting with the mediation of the diplomatic corps earlier today to address the current political crisis in the country. The meeting has been held at the US Embassy in Tbilisi and was attended by US, EU and French ambassadors.