Zugdidi, Batumi municipal budget approved amid opposition’s protest

The city assembly members elected in the 2017 municipal elections approved the 2022 municipal budget in Zugdidi and Batumi earlier today prior to the convening of new city assemblies which were elected in recent, October municipal elections. 

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party protested the move, stating that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party made the ‘illegitimate’ decision as it lost majority in the two city assemblies following this year’s elections. 

• Opposition claims ruling party intends to adopt municipal budget without their involvement

Two opposition activists were arrested by police in Zugdidi and four in Batumi earlier today for disobedience, prior to the voting in city assemblies. 

• Ruling party loses majority in 6 out of 64 Georgian municipalities

Newly elected Zugdidi mayor from the GD party Mamuka Tsotseria says that all procedures have been ensured ‘in the full accordance with the law,’ accusing the opposition of ‘causing unrest.’ 

The new budget for Zugdidi amounts to more than 47 million GEL which will be spent to ensure improvements in various fields. However, the opposition is not interested in that,” Tsotseria said. 

UNM head Nika Melia says that the ‘early approval’ of the budgets in Zugdidi and Batumi show ‘disrespect to voters,’ and that ‘such decisions will end the rule of the Georgian Dream earlier than they expect.’ 

The opposition won the majority in city assemblies in seven out of 64 municipalities in this year's municipal race – Batumi, Zugdidi, Martvili, Chkhorotsku, Tsalenjikha, Rustavi and Senaki.  Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

The For Georgia opposition party has called on the government to respect the decision of voters and suspend voting for the 2022 budget in city assemblies until newly elected members officially occupy their seats. 

Vice-PM, Minister of Environment and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili says that ‘old city councils’ approve new budgets ‘to save time’ and allow newly elected city assemblies to ‘immediately start work.’ 

The Georgian Central Election Commission, which was accused by the opposition of being biased for the ruling party, has scheduled the first sessions of newly elected city assemblies on December 3. 

Batumi city assembly is composed of 35 members. After the recent municipal elections, the GD received 16 seats there, while three opposition parties, the UNM, For Georgia and Lelo garnered the remaining 19 mandates. 

In Zugdidi city assembly the GD has 22 mandates out of total 45.