Ruling party ‘optimistic’ about political dialogue, opposition says ‘fundamental differences’ remain
Opposition has four main demands to the ruling party, including the release of political prisoners. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Three days ahead of the first session of the newly elected legislature, the ruling party and opposition met for the fourth time to discuss a possible solution out of the political deadlock in Georgia.
Following today’s meeting at the United State ambassador’s residence, Georgian Dream leader Archil Talakvadze said the ruling party is ready to respond to election-related ‘absurd claims’ of opposition and to work on electoral reform.
Talakvadze also said that there is no reason to put the legitimacy of recent parliamentary elections under the question mark; therefore, he said the ruling party has no repeat elections on the agenda.
Upon the preliminary agreement, the parties involved in the negotiations do not talk about the details. However, they say everything will become public after the process ends. Photo: 1TV.ge
Hoping that the meetings will end with an agreement and all of the parties gather at the parliament on December 11, another ruling party leader Irakli Kobakhidze said they will again meet with opposition on Wednesday or Thursday.
We feel optimistic [as] we managed to agree on a number of issues which gives the reason for optimism”, Kobakhidze told journalists after the meeting.
He also added that the opposition politicians who are now refusing to take up their mandates can enter parliament any other time when they decide to stop the boycott.
Opposition politicians disagree. All of the eight parties that have qualified for MP seats in October 31 elections, unanimously claim that they will not take up their mandates in the tenth convocation of parliament. Photo: 1TV.ge
European Georgia leader Davit Bakradze stated after the meeting that the ruling party and opposition have ‘fundamental differences’ on holding repeat elections and releasing ‘political prisoners’.
Bakradze however said that a compromise over the electoral system and electoral environment is visible.
We are not entering the parliament… Only the Georgian Dream should be sitting shamefully in the legislature on Friday”, Labour Party leader Shalva Natelashvili has meanwhile said.
Claiming that elections were rigged in favour of the ruling party, opposition demands repeat parliamentary elections be held next year by new election administration. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
In response to recent rumours that certain politicians are willing to take up their mandates, leader of Citizens party Aleko Elisashvili has ruled out such option.
Leader of Strategy Aghmashenebeli Giorgi Vashadze also stressed that despite ‘dirty attacks’ on his team earlier today, opposition will not concede if the Georgian Dream does not agree to hold new elections in 2021.
The newly elected 10th national legislature of Georgia will hold its first session on December 11, at 12:00, the decree by the president of Georgia reads.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the leaders of eight opposition parties and blocs who were voted in during the October 31 parliamentary elections have held a third meeting with the mediation of foreign ambassadors earlier today to find a way out of the current political crisis. The opposition leaders who say that the elections were fabricated and refuse to take up their mandates described the meeting as ‘positive and useful, as several issues have been agreed.’
The ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition politicians have held a second round of negotiations at the United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan’s residence earlier today. The parties have agreed not to reveal the details of the meeting.
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.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has promised that they will accept repeat elections if a temporary investigative commission created by the 10th convocation of the parliament of Georgia reveals that at least 1% of votes were rigged or falsified. Kobakhidze commented on other issues related to the parliament, noting that parties that do not take up their mandates in parliament will not receive budgetary funding and other benefits.
The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party says that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has plans to blackmail them and disrupt the election talks which are taking place with the mediation of diplomatic corps.
The fifth round of election talks mediated by foreign ambassadors between the ruling Georgian Dream party and eight opposition parties and blocs has been postponed.
The newly elected parliament of Georgia will convene its first session at 12 p.m. on December 11. However, it will be comprised only of ruling Georgian Dream party members, as the opposition refuses to attend. Opposition politicians voted into parliament remain unanimous in their decision to boycott the new parliament, and say they intend to have their MP status rescinded.