EU candidacy would ease Georgia’s polarised political environment - ruling party head

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday claimed the European Union’s decision later this year on whether to grant Georgia its membership candidate status would have an influence on the domestic political environment. 

In his remarks for Imedi TV, Kobakhidze said the bloc’s “unfair refusal” of the status last year had “helped the maintenance of an artificially created tense political environment” in the country. 

The situation needs to be changed, and Georgia’s receiving the status will play an important role in this regard. I hope the decision in December will be fair and Georgia will get the status”, he said.

The lawmaker also slammed claims by the domestic opposition and non-Governmental organisations that said Georgia obtaining the status would not be thanks to the Government’s efforts. 

Kobakhidze said such claims aimed at “further strengthening of political polarisation” in the country, and were “absolutely unfounded”, as the Government and the Parliament had “determined and implemented” the policies required for the country’s European integration. 

Thus, any achievements of the country are the merit of the Government”, he said. 

The European Commission is scheduled to reveal its report on Georgia’s implementation of the candidacy conditions in late October or early November, with the conclusions to be used by the European Council in December to decide on the country’s status.