Ruling party MP highlights “political decision” on deoligarchisation action plan

Rati Ionatamishvili, an MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday highlighted the ruling party’s “political decision” to proceed with the approval of the action plan on the deoligarchisation bill.

In his remarks over the bill, which responds to one of the European Union’s conditions for granting the country its membership candidate status, Ionatamishvili noted the action plan had already been developed by the Georgian Government and would be approved in consultation with the country’s international partners.

Our political decision has been made that we are proceeding with the approval of the action plan. This is the position agreed with our European partners. [...] Thus, there will be no room for speculation about another agreement”, Ionatamishvili said.

The development follows the review of the bill at the Parliament on Tuesday, before lawmakers defeated it after its third reading. The ruling party explained there was no longer a need to pass a separate law on deoligarchisation, since the condition had been removed by the EU. 

The Georgian Dream party also said the draft action plan for the bill would be sent to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe for review by the end of the week.

• Ruling party head pledges progress on EU conditions

Iraikli Kobakhidze, the head of the Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the Georgian Government was “doing its best” to make sure “not even the slightest excuse” was left for the country to be refused the European Union membership candidate status for the second year running.