Opposition MP: advising EU to postpone candidacy for Georgia “undermines opposition’s message”
In her remarks over the matter today, she called for a stop to the alleged practice of “sharing contrasting messages with international partners”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, on Wednesday said unspecified political figures from the domestic opposition advising Georgia’s European partners behind closed doors to grant the EU membership candidate status to the country only after the 2024 Parliamentary Elections were “undermining” the opposition’s message that the country “needs the status”.
Samnidze on Tuesday alleged “specific representatives” of the opposition were “hindering” the process of Georgia receiving the EU membership candidate status.
In her remarks over the matter today, she called for a stop to the alleged practice of “sharing contrasting messages with international partners”.
This information is not new. It has been known to us before, but after our [European] partners told us that it is not clear to them why there is not a unified message [on the candidate status] - for example, from the opposition wing - I made a decision that we should talk about it publicly”, Samnidze said.
The opposition MP noted the country had done “everything” to receive the status, with specific reservations, at this “historic moment”.
Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, on Tuesday said that “specific representatives” of the opposition were “hindering” the process of granting Georgia the European Union membership candidate status.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday accused President Salome Zourabichvili and a part of the domestic opposition of “hampering” the process of composition of the country’s Central Election Commission, following the party’s announcement about a new electoral bill on election of the Commission Chair in the Parliament.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday claimed a part of the domestic opposition was “doing everything to hinder” the country’s European integration and disrupt upcoming decisions on whether it would receive the European Union membership candidate status.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said there were “unfriendly” groups outside Georgia making every effort to hinder the process of the country's European integration process.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said Khatuna Samnidze, the chair of the Republican Party opposition group in the Parliament, had “confirmed” that a part of the domestic opposition was lobbying against the country being granted the European Union membership candidate status.
Khatia Dekanoidze, an opposition MP from the Euro Optimists faction in the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said she could confirm “mixed messages” from domestic opposition groups over the country’s European Union membership candidate status were “causing concerns” among its foreign partners.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday said a “positive” decision on the European Union membership candidate status later this year would “strengthen” the Georgian Government ahead of the 2024 Parliamentary Elections.