Ruling party MP: “difficult” to talk about national consensus when "radical opposition is trying to radicalise” political environment

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.

• Opposition MP: claims of part of opposition that Gov’t will not be replaced through elections “wrong”

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.