Former UNM leader Samadashvili appointed Lelo opposition party political secretary

Salome Samadashvili, a former leader of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party, will hold the post of the Political Secretary of Lelo, another opposition group.

The move sees Samadashvili switch from the position of the Deputy Chairman of the parliamentary Lelo party, with the politician raising the question of importance of breaking the “vicious circle” in the country’s political scene - polarised between the ruling Georgian Dream party and UNM, the leading opposition group.

In her comments on the matter, Samadashvili said the public should be offered a “new political perspective” on the local scene.

We [politicians] are in politics for certain values. The main value for me is our country. Lelo is a union of patriots, therefore I consider it important to continue political activities with them,” Samadashvili said.

• Number of opposition MPs take up mandates after six-month political standoff

Samadashvili officially left UNM in May 2021, making the move after personally signing the European Union-mediated agreement between the government and the opposition which ended a six-month political crisis in the country following the 2020 parliamentary elections.