Parliament Speaker: opposition’s radicalisation, not polarisation the domestic political problem
In his remarks over the matter, Papuashvili noted a part of the opposition had not engaged in Parliamentary activities concerning the implementation of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the “radicalisation” of a part of the domestic opposition in Georgia, not political polarisation, was the “main problem” in the country.
“When we talk about the problem and challenge of polarisation, in reality what we have is not polarisation but radicalisation of the opposition, which leads to all [related issues]”, the head of the legislative body said.
The main problem is not polarisation, [or] the existence of different and opposing opinions, but the radicalisation of the opposition and the radical agenda they follow, which implies one thing - non-recognition of the Government. This is the main challenge they have”, Papuashvili continued.
In his remarks over the matter, Papuashvili noted a part of the opposition had not engaged in Parliamentary activities concerning the implementation of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the talk of snap Parliamentary elections in the country - as demanded by a part of the domestic opposition - was “absurd”.
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.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said the Georgian Government had not deviated from the path that “involves joining the European family”.
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.
Ruling Georgian Dream party MP Mikheil Sarjveladze on Tuesday called the refusal of a part of the domestic opposition to participate in the GD-proposed working groups for achieving the European Union membership candidate status for the country “anomalous”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said anyone who considered themselves a friend of the Georgian people must focus on “not encouraging a radical agenda in the country”, in reference to a part of the domestic opposition’s stance.
Archil Talakvadze, the vice speaker of the Georgian parliament, on Thursday said if the “radical” part of the domestic opposition wished to participate in the process of implementing the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status, the government was “ready to cooperate”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday told the legislative body “disinformation” had become the “main tool for deepening polarisation in the country’s domestic politics, weakening state institutions and damaging foreign policy goals”.