Girchi signs, other opposition parties likely to join new EU proposal to solve Georgian political tension
The Girchi opposition party signed European Council President Charles Michel’s proposal earlier today. Photo: Girchi press office.
Tweet 
Share
Three MPs of the Girchi party have signed, while Lelo has stated they will also sign the new proposal by the EU to solve the political tension in Georgia which began after the 2020 parliamentary elections.
The agreement released by the European Council President Charles Michel on the weekend offers a pardon for all violations and convictions stemming from the 19-21 June 2019 protests in Tbilisi and says that if the ruling party fails to receive at least 43 per cent of votes in this year’s municipal elections, they should accept the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections.
President of the European Council Charles Michel @eucopresident publishes new proposal made today to all Georgian political parties.https://t.co/Vv5eBTP0Hl
— EU Delegation Georgia ???????? (@EUinGeorgia) April 18, 2021
54 of 60 opposition MPs have refused to take up their mandates in the 10th convocation of the Georgian parliament.
They say that the October 31, 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia were fabricated and have been demanding repeat elections since November 2020.
The arrest of the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia in February 2021 for his refusal to pay bail for June 2019 charges further complicated the political tension in Georgia.
Along with the conduct of repeat elections and the release of Melia, the opposition also demands the release of the co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua who is convicted for illegal possession and carrying of firearms.
Lelo says that they will sign the EU proposal. Photo: Lelo press office.
Michel’s mediator Christian Danielsson failed twice to help the parties come to an agreement last month.
Initially, in March neither the ruling party nor the opposition signed the agreement offered by Danielsson.
However, last week the ruling party signed Danielsson’s agreement and said that they ‘put the state interests above the party interests’.
Summary of EU-mediated political dialogue: Chief Foreign Policy Advisor of @eucopresident Simon Mordue @EuMordue,@CarlHartzellEU and US Ambassador Kelly Degnan meet political stakeholders. pic.twitter.com/U8vrsLYqDp
— EU Delegation Georgia ???????? (@EUinGeorgia) April 18, 2021
The opposition parties did not sign Danielsson's agreement because it said nothing about repeat elections.
Now the leaders of the United National Movement and European Georgia opposition parties say that the opposition should sign Michel's proposal.
However, they say that consultations are still in progress inside the parties because several members of the parties are against the signing.
Leader of Strategy Agmashenebeli has stated that he approves the signing of the proposal.