Ruling party official: UNM planning against Georgia’s EU candidate status to force Gov’t change

Mdinaradze said the idea of UNM’s decision on lifting the party’s Parliamentary boycott this week having been made for making a contribution to the fulfilment of EU recommendations for the status through legislative work was “not convincing”. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office

Agenda.ge, 30 Mar 2023 - 17:05, Tbilisi,Georgia

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed the plan of the opposition United National Movement party was to ensure the country did not receive the European Union membership candidate status and use the outcome to replace the Government.

Mdinaradze said the idea of UNM’s decision on lifting the party’s Parliamentary boycott this week having been made for making a contribution to the fulfilment of EU recommendations for the status through legislative work was “not convincing”.

[T]heir plan is [for Georgia] not to receive the [EU membership] candidate status. [In contrast] [o]ur plan is to become a full-fledged member of the European family with dignity, [by] standing on two feet [and] following the recommendations - and we will definitely be able to do this”, Mdinaradze said.

“If there is a political and unfair decision towards Georgia again, the Georgian public will see it, and [they will also see] whose contribution [results in that outcome]”, the GD official noted in reference to the European Council granting the country a European perspective - instead of the full candidate status - last year, and the alleged role of UNM in this year’s decision on the country.

European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday said the Council of the European Union must make a decision on starting the process of negotiations on the accession of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia to the bloc by the end of this year.