President, former PM, Ombudswoman may create party for 2024 Elections - ruling party head

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday claimed the party had been “informed” about plans involving President Salome Zourabichvili, former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and former Public Defender Nino Lomjaria forming a party for balloting in the 2024 Parliamentary Elections in the country. 

In his press comments, the lawmaker claimed Zourabaichvili’s meeting with the non-governmental sector on Monday and discussions with female MPs earlier on Tuesday “serve this goal”. 

Kobakhidze further noted the potential party would be allied with the United National Movement, the largest opposition group in the country labelled as a “radical force” by the Georgian Dream authorities. 

Of course, the [new] party will have no prospects [to win the elections]”, Kobakhidze said. 

In his comments, the MP once again slammed the President, and claimed she had “lost legitimacy” following the recent ruling by the Constitutional Court, which approved his party’s allegations that Zourabichvili had violated the country’s Constitution through her visits to Europe in August and September without the Government's authorisation. 

Gakharia quit as the PM and left GD in 2021 following a controversy with the party, while Lomjaria’s term in office expired last year. Both were accused of cooperation with the UNM by the ruling party.