Ruling party head: no early elections on agenda
The ruling party said earlier that they might have accepted the holding of repeat parliamentary elections. Photo: Georgian Dream press office.
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Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that ‘no elections will take place until the one scheduled in 2024.’
According to the EU-mediated agreement which was signed by the ruling party and the majority of opposition parties back in April 2021, the ruling party accepted the holding of repeat parliamentary elections if it received less than 43 per cent of votes in the upcoming October 2 municipal elections.
However, last month the ruling party withdrew from the agreement ‘due to the main opposition party’s refusal to join the agreement’ and said that the issue of holding repeat parliamentary elections will be dependent on the party’s goodwill.
100 days after signing the April 19 Agreement, majority of Georgian opposition MPs and parties refused to sign it, declined to work to fulfill it, and voted against it.
— Georgian Dream (@GeorgianDream41) July 28, 2021
Therefore, Georgian Dream declares the Agreement void, but continues to adhere to its provisions in principle. pic.twitter.com/pEHuLN3T6r
The opposition parties which won seats in the 2020 parliamentary elections accused the Georgian Dream of fabricating the election results and have been demanding repeat elections since December 2020.
The several-month political crisis in the country was resolved by the EU-mediated agreement proposed by European Council President Charles Michel.
Along with the election issues, the document obliged the signatories to secure large-scale reforms,including in the judiciary field.
The United National Movement opposition party, which won 34 of 60 opposition seats in the 150-member parliament, refused to join the EU-mediated agreement because of a single stipulation in it on the amnesty of June 2019 protest convicts.
Following the Georgian Dream’s decision to leave the agreement, which was described as the ‘betrayal of the country’s western course’ by the opposition, the opposition parties still believe that the ruling party will have to accept holding of repeat elections if they receive less than 43 per cent of votes in the upcoming municipal race.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MPs say that the party has no plans to rejoin the EU-mediated agreement it left on July 28. Georgian Dream MP Archil Talakvadze said earlier today that ‘the ruling party was the only party which was fulfilling the agreement’ which had resolved a six-month political crisis following disputed parliamentary elections at the end of 2020 and proposed large-scale reforms.
Opposition MP Tamar Kordzaia has boycotted the parliamentary activities after the ruling Georgian Dream party’s withdrawal from the EU-mediated agreement. Kordzaia told IPN that she signed the agreement because ‘the western course is important,’ noting that parliamentary cooperation with the Georgian Dream is impossible.
The head of opposition United National Movement (UNM) party Nika Melia, who has been nominated for Tbilisi mayor by several opposition parties, has stated he is giving up his parliamentary mandate to prepare for the October 2 municipal elections.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has annulled its signatory status to the April 19 EU-mediated agreement which resolved a six-month political crisis in the country following the 2020 parliamentary elections and proposed large-scale electoral and judiciary reforms.Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze stated earlier today that the agreement initiated by the European Council President Charles Michel ‘had completed its mission’ and accused opposition parties of non-fulfilment of the agreement.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the country must hold the October 2 municipal elections in a safe environment amid the coronavirus pandemic and has announced a meeting with the leadership of the country’s Central Election Commission (CEC) in the coming days.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated at the nomination ceremony for a mayoral candidate in Marneuli municipality of eastern Georgia that only the ruling Georgian Dream party will be able to maintain peace and stability in the country. PM Garibashvili underscored that many problems remain unresolved such as lack of water and gas supply, paving roads and cultivation of agricultural lands in various Georgian villages, noting that ‘this should be our [the ruling party’s] main concern.’
The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party, which won 34 of 60 opposition seats in the 2020 parliamentary elections in the 150-member parliament, has presented mayoral candidates for the October 2 municipal race.
Four opposition parties, the United National Movement (UNM), Droa, Girchi-More Freedom and European Georgia have presented joint majoritarian candidates for Tbilisi City Assembly ahead of the October 2 municipal elections.
The United National Movement (UNM), European Georgia, Droa and Girchi-More Freedom opposition parties have nominated former Tbilisi Mayor under UNM Gigi Ugulava for Poti mayor in western Georgia ahead of the October 2 municipal elections.
European Council President Charles Michel has tweeted that the deadline for disbursement of macro financial assistance is looming and ‘it is time for the Georgian government to demonstrate its commitment to the agreements and notably the reform agenda.’ Michel’s tweet comes after yesterday’s meeting with Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili during the Crimea Platform forum in Kyiv.