Ruling party MP: “difficult” to talk about national consensus when "radical opposition is trying to radicalise” political environment
In his remarks over the matter Mikanadze stressed that a section of the domestic opposition was aiming at “further polarising" the political environment. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Givi Mikanadze, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said it was “difficult to talk about" national consensus when leaders of the domestic "radical opposition" were announcing rallies and "trying to radicalise the political environment" in the country.
In his remarks over the matter Mikanadze stressed that a section of the domestic opposition was aiming at “further polarising" the political environment.
It is difficult to talk about national consensus when leaders of the radical opposition announce rallies, try to spread false information in the public without any grounds, try to radicalise [the political environment], say that revolution and storming of [Government] buildings are acceptable, and so on. On this backdrop, achieving national consensus is the most difficult task”, Mikanadze said.
Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, on Thursday said it was “wrong” on the part of a section of the opposition to reject election campaigning by claiming the Georgian Dream Government would not let itself be replaced through voting.
Samnidze was commenting on the statement of Zurab Girchi Japaridze, the leader of the Girchi - More Freedom opposition party, who earlier today said the domestic opposition was “capable of doing a lot”, including storming of Government institutions.
Tamar Taliashvili, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said the Parliamentary work on the 12-point conditions outlined by the EU for granting the country the membership candidate status was proceeding according to plan, with the principles of “openness, transparency and inclusiveness” ensured.
The working group proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament and tasked with revising domestic electoral laws in line with the European Commission conditions for the country’s EU membership candidacy held its first meeting on Thursday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the domestic opposition was “doing everything” to prevent the country from receiving the European Union membership candidate status as it believed the outcome would boost the Government’s position.
Tamar Taliashvili, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the domestic “radical opposition” had “no interest” in being a constructive player in taking part in the fulfilment of the 12-point conditions established by the European Union for granting the country the membership candidate status later this year.
Elections are the only way to change the Government and any attempts to overthrow it will be “doomed to fail”, Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Tbilisi Mayor, said on Monday in response to comments by opposition leader Nika Melia on an “urgent need for changes in the state leadership”.
Levan Ioseliani, an opposition MP from the Citizens party, said on Tuesday that small, “radical” opposition parties were waiting for the dissolution of the largest domestic opposition group, the United National Movement, to “take advantage” of the process and “win UNM voters”, in comments on plans of the Girchi - More Freedom and other opposition parties to start holding rallies against the Government starting next month.
Electoral amendments necessary for obtaining the European Union membership candidate status for Georgia will be proposed in September by the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, with the bill drafted in line with recommendations of the Parliamentary working group set up earlier this month to address electoral issues, ruling Georgian Dream party MP Givi Mikanadze said on Thursday.
The “radical part” of the domestic opposition is “acting against” the Georgian Government’s plans to receive the European Union membership candidate status next year by drafting bills as part of parallel working groups that “demonstrate their anti-Western goals”, ruling Georgian Dream party MP Rati Ionatamishvili said on Monday.