Leading MEPs call UNM sign EU-mediated agreement, join parliament
Based on the Central Election Commission data the United National Movement, which is the largest opposition party, has received 36 seats in the tenth convocation of the parliament. Photo: Nika Meila/Facebook
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European Parliament members Andrius Kubilius, Michael Gahler and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel call on the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party to sign the EU-mediated agreement and enter the parliament of Georgia.
MEP Kubilius has tweeted:
My dear friends from UNM in Georgia! I would like to urge you to sign the agreement and join the Parliament! ????????needs strong & constructive parliamentary opposition to make control of the government effective. It is how democracy works in Europe! Hope to see the same in Georgia!
— Andrius Kubilius (@KubiliusA) May 11, 2021
MEP Gahler has also tweeted:
I encourage my UNM friends in Georgia to sign the agreement and join the Parliament. Any valid criticism towards government and ruling party resonates much better from inside the plenary than being shouted from outside.
— Michael Gahler (@gahler_michael) May 11, 2021
MEP von Kramon agrees:
????????I couldn't agree more. Through the ????????#EU-brokered deal, Parliament of #Georgia became much more fair & now offers strong platform to the opposition. Enough with hardline political games that only harm Georgia. #UNM & all with mandates need to work & fight inside @Geoparliament https://t.co/VN4cSUHnqg
— Viola von Cramon (@ViolavonCramon) May 11, 2021
In mid-April, the Georgian ruling party and the part of opposition signed the EU-mediated agreement after the six-month political deadlock following the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Claiming the parliamentary elections have been rigged the opposition politicians refused to take up their mandates and held protest rallies. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Although some of the political parties have entered the parliament after signing the agreement UNM, European Georgia and Labour party still refuse to do so.
Members of European Parliament Marina Kaljurand, Andrius Kubilius and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel have spoken about the EU’s mediation efforts in Georgia and the recent failure to reach an agreement between the political parties.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with European Parliament President David Sassoli and MEPs in Brussels earlier today.
MEPs Marina Kaljurand, Sven Mikser and Viola Von Cramon have welcomed the signing of the EU-mediated proposal by majority of Georgian political parties to put an end to the political tension in Georgia which began after the 2020 parliamentary elections.
European Parliament members Viola von Cramon-Taubadel and Marina Kaljurand call on the Georgian opposition to follow the example of the ruling party and sign the EU-proposed agreement to solve the current political crisis.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has stated earlier today that ‘it is likely Georgian political parties have built a large consensus on the election bill, in line with the EU-mediated agreement signed by the majority of the parties back in April.'
Opposition United National Movement (UNM) members will take up their parliamentary mandates after almost a six-month boycott, party chair Nika Melia has announced after the party’s political council meeting today.
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rik Daems has urged Georgian political parties to practically implement the April 19 EU-mediated agreement which includes large-scale reforms including in the electoral and judiciary fields.