Parliament official: EU candidate status has become “political tool” for opposition

Maka Botchorishvili, the Head of the European Integration Committee in the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said the issue of Georgia being granted the European Union membership candidate status had become a “political tool” for the domestic opposition. 

Botchorishvili’s remarks followed the statement of Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the opposition Lelo party, who on Friday said “the position of some people [in the domestic opposition] is that under the ruling Georgian Dream party the EU membership candidate status should not be granted, which I and my party categorically oppose”. 

For the representatives of the opposition, the issue of granting the candidate status has become a political tool - a tool for political struggle - and they see in this a good chance and an opportunity to take over the Government”, the Parliament official said in her comments on Khazaradze’s remarks. 

Botchorishvili also stressed if the country did not receive the status under the ruling party, this would give the domestic opposition an opportunity to change the Government “by any means”.

She said while it was “probably too difficult for any politician” to go public with an opinion against Georgia receiving the candidate status, the opposition figures were still “aiming at preventing” the country from receiving it.