UNM opposition: ruling party tries to disrupt election talks
The United National Movement opposition party has criticized the ruling Georgian Dream party for its recent statement on party funding and a bill. Photo: IPN.
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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 UNM has responded to the recent statement of GD that none of the opposition parties will receive state funding if they refuse to take up their mandates in parliament and that the GD will initiate a law in the 10th parliament which will disqualify parties from registration for elections if their leaders violate the state constitution, referring to the UNM leader, ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili.
This is an attempt of the ruling party to disrupt the ongoing negotiations,” UNM member Khatia Dekanoidze said.
The leader of European Georgia opposition party Gigi Ugulava said that the ruling party will try to justify the results ‘of fabricated elections’ with the help of the commission which will be composed by GD MPs.
Per the election results ruling party received 90 seats in parliament, while eight opposition parties and election blocs received 60 seats. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
The ruling party and the opposition have reached no consensus so far in the election talks, as opposition parties are demanding repeat elections, while the ruling party states that elections were conducted in line with democratic standards.
The first session of the new parliament is scheduled on Friday.
Only one member of the opposition Aleko Elisashvili stated earlier today that he will enter parliament if the ruling party presents a plan of a large-scale election reform and if there are guarantees that the reform will be carried out.
The members of the remaining seven opposition parties and blocs who were voted in on the October 31 parliament elections, are unanimous that the repeat elections must take place.
Foreign ambassadors who are mediating the talks are hopeful that an agreement may be reached tomorrow and that all parties will attend the first session of parliament on December 11.
The ruling party has promised that they will carry out the election reform anyway.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.