Ruling party MP: “radical” opposition will be “bitterly defeated" with country receiving EU candidate status

Davit Matikashvili, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the country would receive the European Union membership candidate status later this year, leading to a "bitter defeat" for the domestic “radical” opposition.

In his remarks over the matter, Matikashvili noted the bloc's decision last year not to grant the status to the country as a “geopolitical mistake”.

When we receive the candidate status, it will be the heaviest defeat of the radical opposition in Georgia and a great victory for the Georgian state, the Georgian Dream Government and Georgian citizens”, Matikashvili said. 

The legislator alleged the objective of the “radical” opposition was not to ensure the country received the candidate status but to “illegally” change the Government. 

For more than a year, they have been taking all steps - including by visiting European capitals - [and] have been carrying out anti-Georgian propaganda all over the world, so that the country does not receive the status, and [then] change the Government illegally and unconstitutionally”, he noted.

Matikashvili added the Georgian authorities were waiting for a “correct political decision" from the EU on the status, and expressed his belief the bloc would "not make any more mistakes" in this regard.