Ex-PM Gakharia proposes talks with ruling party, UNM opposition for ‘balanced’ city assemblies
Giorgi Gakharia served as the county’s interior and prime ministers under the Georgian Dream leadership. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Former prime minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia has proposed trilateral talks between his For Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the United National Movement (UNM) opposition to compose city assemblies ‘in a balanced manner.’
Gakharia, whose party received 7.79 per cent of the vote in the proportional part of the October 2 municipal elections stated earlier today that both the GD and the UNM need a coalition with For Georgia in several city assemblies to form a majority.
Both parties are trying to hold hidden negotiations with us to have a majority which is unacceptable for us,” Gakharia said, noting that the GD ‘is also suppressing our majoritarian candidates in city assemblies to gain their support.’
He stated that an ‘open, trilateral format of negotiations’ should be held which will compose the city assemblies in a balanced fashion.
We are also ready to support any candidates proposed by the GD and the UNM, selected in the format for various posts in city assemblies,” Gakharia said.
The October 2 elections were a step back, neither free nor fair. Nevertheless #ForGeorgia party, which was founded 4 months ago, took the third position. We shall act in the best interests of ????????, including its European and Euro-Atlantic future.
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) October 5, 2021
He stated that if any of the parties will not accept the offer, then For Georgia will act based on the ‘fundamental principle of the party and will not allow the concentration of power in one party’.
According to the results of the first round of municipal elections the GD is expected to need a coalition to form a majority in Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Rustavi, Zugdidi and Batumi city assemblies, while the UNM will have a majority in Zugdidi city assembly.
Gakharia resigned as PM and left the GD in February 2021 due to controversies with the ruling party leadership and founded the For Georgia party in May 2021.
He has been frequently described as a ‘traitor’ by the ruling party and government officials and has been accused of making an alliance with the UNM.