Three opposition parties to nominate joint majoritarian candidates in Tbilisi for upcoming local elections
Opposition Leader Bokeria also underscored that the full power should not be concentrated within a single political party, noting that ‘it is a key part’ of their agreement. Photo: Elene Zakashvili/On.ge.
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The European Georgia, Girchi - More Freedom and Movement Droa will nominate joint majoritarian candidates in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi for the upcoming October 2 local municipal elections on August 15.
Droa movement Leader Elene Khoshtaria stated that the municipal elections are ‘special elections, which is essentially a referendum,’ noting that the opposition understands its responsibility before the Georgian population to propose the choice which will ‘give them [Georgian citizens] faith.’
Libertarian Leader of Girchi - More Freedom Zurab Japaridze also stressed the importance of forthcoming elections and noted that ‘these elections ultimately decide a lot.’
This election resolves the issue of this government’s legitimacy…We agreed not to compete with each other and to support each other's [Opposition’s] candidates,” Japaridze said.
The largest opposition political party United National Movement (UNM) will also support the joint majoritarian candidates nominated in Tbilisi, Leader of the European Georgia Giga Bokeria announced.
Bokeria also underscored that the full power should not be concentrated within a single political party, noting that ‘it is a key part’ of their agreement.
He also expressed the hope to reach an agreement over the joint majoritarian candidates in other regions of Georgia as well.
Our historic choice is to protect the independence and sovereignty of this country from an external enemy. However inside the country personal freedom of all our citizens should be protected as well,” Bokeria stated.
In late July the ruling Georgian Dream party decided to back out of the April 19 EU-mediated agreement which resolved the months of the political standoff in the country caused by parliamentary elections 2020 and proposed fundamental electoral and judicial reforms.
Per the agreement the Georgian Dream had to hold a snap election if it received less than 43 per cent of votes on the upcoming municipal elections however Head of the ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze noted that holding the local elections under the EU-mediated agreement while opposition parties refuse to sign it would be ‘harmful to Georgia’s interests.’
US Embassy in Georgia and the international community criticised the Georgian government’s withdrawal from the agreement and called on all political parties to work together for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
The survey conducted by the research organisation in the Caucasus region Gorbi, commissioned by TV channel Imedi, has reported that 46.8 per cent of Georgians would vote for the ruling Georgian Dream party if the local municipal elections were held today.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has confirmed October 2 as the date of local self-government elections of Georgia.
The international community has criticised the ruling Georgian Dream party’s exit from the EU-mediated agreement which put an end to a six-month political standoff caused by parliamentary elections of 2020. Seven US senators have published a joint statement on the breakdown of the Georgian EU-mediated agreement which says that ‘recent developments in Georgia undermine the reform efforts agreed to in the April 19 agreement.’
The US Embassy in Georgia has responded to the ruling party’s exit from the EU-mediated agreement and stated that ‘Washington is growing increasingly alarmed about repeated setbacks to Georgia’s democratic future.’ The ruling Georgian Dream party announced yesterday that the agreement initiated by the European Council President Charles Michel ‘completed its mission’ and left the agreement.
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.
A number of opposition parties have put forward the United National Movement chair Nika Melia for the post of Tbilisi mayor, while Droa movement leader Elene Khoshtaria has been put forward for the City Council (Sakrebulo) chair for the upcoming municipal elections in October.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) party members claim the ruling Georgian Dream party is bribing voters ahead of local self-government elections and filed a lawsuit against the party. The opposition leaders noted that they have audio and video footage that proves the crime, noting that in Georgia there is ‘selective justice.’
Tsotne Koberidze from the Girchi-More Freedom political party will be a joint candidate for vice Tbilisi Mayor of four political parties in the October 2 municipal elections. The United National Movement opposition party, European Georgia, Girchi-More Freedom and Elene Khoshtaria’s Droa political movement had agreed to present joint candidates for Tbilisi mayor, head of Tbilisi City Assembly and Tbilisi vice mayor.
Georgia’s former ambassadors to the US Batu Kutelia and David Sikharulidze, as well as former MP Nino Goguadze have joined a political party Droa founded by former leader of the European Georgia political party Elene Khoshtaria.
Chairman of eastern Georgian Rustavi city council Levan Oniani has been dismissed from his post by secret ballot vote earlier today following his exit from the ruling Georgian Dream party.