Ruling party, opposition respond to Vashadze’s leaving of UNM
Grigol Vashadze has announced his resignation via a Facebook post earlier today. Photo: Grigol Vashadze’s press office.
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The ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition members have responded to the decision of the head of the opposition United National Movement Grigol Vashadze to leave the party earlier today.
Vashadze said that the presence of ‘odious figures’ in the party and attacks on the diplomatic corps and ‘other controversies’ pushed him to resign.
UNM members have assessed the resignation differently.
UNM members Roman Gotziridze and Salome Samadashvili have praised Vashadze’s chairmanship of the party, stating that he has made the party stronger in the past three years.
Fellow member of the party Khatia Dekanoidze said that Vashadze’s claim that attacks on the diplomatic corps was wrong, as well as his decision to leave the party without consultations with UNM members.
Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has responded to Vashadze's resignation. Photo: Archil Talakvadze's press office.
UNM member Nugzar Tsiklauri responded to Vashadze’s statement on the absence of the UNM strategy, adding that ‘we were waiting for the strategy from Vashadze as he was the head of the party.’
Parliament Speaker from the ruling Georgian Dream party Archil Talakvadze stated that the ‘reasons named by Vashadze behind his resignation are a deadly diagnosis for the UNM.’
Ruling party MP Kakha Kuchava stated that ‘Vashadze’s resignation and the reasons named by him has proved that the UNM is becoming an anti-western political force.’
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has annulled the party lists of five opposition parties earlier today per their request, meaning candidates on the lists would not be able to replace opposition MPs who have officially refused to take up their mandates in parliament.
The head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Grigol Vashadze has stated that he has left the party and said that the presence of ‘odious figures’ in the party and attacks on the diplomatic corps and ‘other controversies’ pushed him to resign. Vashadze said in his Facebook post released earlier today that he has done his best as the head of the party since January 2017 to make the party stronger.
Five opposition parties and election blocs that were voted into parliament have submitted a request to Georgia’s Central Election Commission asking for their party lists to be annulled, meaning candidates on the lists would not be able to replace opposition MPs who will officially refuse to take up their mandates in parliament.
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 Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) says that the data of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) NGO which shows an imbalance between ballots cast and signatures of registered votes in eight per cent of election districts, is incorrect.
Thirty-six MPs of the United National Movement-Strength in Unity election bloc have officially asked parliament to suspend their status. They claim that the elections were fabricated by the ruling Georgian Dream party and state that they will continue to fight from the street to force the government hold repeat elections. The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) annulled the party lists of five opposition parties earlier per their request yesterday, meaning candidates on the lists would not be able to replace opposition MPs who have officially refused to take up their mandates in parliament.
The candidate for the premiership Giorgi Gakharia has met with ruling Georgian Dream party MPs in parliament earlier today before the parliament votes on him and his cabinet, stating the government’s strategic goal will be to ensure further ties with the EU in the coming four years and to make an appeal for EU membership in 2024.
Nika Melia will be the next chair of the United National Movement (UNM) based on the results of the opposition party polls. The UNM launched an online poll on December 21 following Grigol Vashadze’s resignation.
Former head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Grigol Vashadze has joined Giorgi Vashadze’s Strategy Aghmashebeli ahead of the October 2 municipal elections.