Ruling party MP says Gakharia also left Georgian Dream
All five PMs under the Georgian Dream government have left the post earlier than scheduled. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
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The ruling Georgian Dream party MP Nikoloz Samkharadze stated earlier today that ‘as far as I know PM Giorgi Gakharia not only resigned but also left the Georgian Dream.’
Gakharia stated earlier today that he resigned because he failed to make an agreement with the ruling Georgian Georgian Dream party over the arrest of opposition MP, the head of the United National Movement party Nika Melia.
He said that Melia’s arrest was legal. However, he stated that the detention amid the current political crisis would threaten further destabilisation.
Samkharadze said that ‘I am surprised by Gakharia’s decision because Gakharia earlier supported Melia’s arrest and the enforcement of law.’
The head of the Georgian Dream ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze stated earlier today that the reasons named by Gakharia why Melia should not be arrested were ‘weak.’
He urged Melia to act in line with law, ‘otherwise he will be arrested.’
Nika Melia (R ) and the leader of European Georgia opposition Gigi Ugulava in UNM office today, after Gakharia's resignation. Photo: IPN.
Now the political council of the ruling party is holding a meeting.
Kobakhidze said that the party will nominate the candidate for premiership tomorrow.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has stated that ‘we will not allow any attempt of destabilisation.’
He said that Georgian Dream is ‘united’ and all state services will be provided without any delay.
Opposition parties have welcomed Gakharia’s resignation and stated that Gakharia ‘has refused to fulfil the demands of the ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.’
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The opposition have demanded a meeting with the ruling party, with the facilitation of foreign ambassadors, ‘to come to an agreement on repeat parliamentary elections.’
51 of 60 opposition MPs who won seats in the October 31 parliamentary elections have refused to take up their mandates.
They have been demanding repeat elections since November 2020.
Four meetings have been held between the ruling party and the opposition with the facilitation of foreign ambassadors to help the parties end the current political crisis. However, the meetings ended without the result.
Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia Andrius Kalindra has met with officials from opposition parties at the office of the United National Movement (UNM) office earlier today. Before entering the office he said that ‘we are working with all political parties to achieve success towards Euro-Atlantic integration’.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has confirmed a disagreement with recently resigned PM Giorgi Gakharia over the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia.
Opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Nika Melia, who was named the reason for PM Giorgi Gakharia recent resignation, has stated that the opposition ‘welcomes’ the PM’s decision, but it is not sufficient.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has announced his resignation earlier today, saying that the step is connected with the upcoming arrest of the opposition MP, the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia. Gakharia has stated that Melia violated the law and has been engaged in sparking tension in the country.
The Georgian Dream ruling party has nominated Defense Minister Irakli Garibashvili, 39, for the premiership earlier today, following the resignation of Giorgi Gakharia. This is the second time the Georgian Dream has nominated Garibashvili for the premiership. Initially he served as PM between November 2013 and December 2015. He was the second PM under the Georgian Dream leadership, replacing the founder of the party Bidzina Ivanishvili in the role.
Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned earlier today amid a disagreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party over the detention of opposition leader Nika Melia’s detention, said ‘confrontation and rivalry’ in Georgia endanger its future democratic and economic development.
The candidate for the Georgian premiership Irakli Garibashvili has named his cabinet members earlier today which includes two new faces - candidates for the minister of infrastructure and defence. Maia Tskitishvili, who has served the country’s regional development and infrastructure minister since 2018 has resigned and her deputy, Irakli Karseladze, has been nominated as her replacement.
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The head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that the June 2019 rally dispersal in Tbilisi was ‘unclearly’ planned by then Interior Minister and former PM Giorgi Gakharia who recently founded a new political party For Georgia.