Ruling party MPs urge opposition leader to name politicians “hampering” country’s EU candidacy
Ruling party MPs claimed Samnidze’s allegations “confirmed” the opposition’s “harmful actions” against Georgia’s EU integration. Photo: Parliament press office
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Lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party on Wednesday urged Khatuna Samnidze, the head of the Republican Party in the Parliament, to name domestic opposition representatives she accused on Tuesday of taking actions to “hamper” Tbilisi’s obtaining of the European Union membership candidate status in December.
In her comments, the opposition MP claimed unidentified members of domestic opposition groups had “particularly intensified their efforts” over the recent months against Georgia’s EU candidacy, which she said had been “confirmed” by European partners.
Reacting to the claims, Rati Ionatamishvili, a GD MP, said it was the “first recognition” by the opposition member about her colleagues’ “harmful actions” against the country’s EU integration, and called on Samnidze to name them “as the public should know who they are”.
Anri Okhanashvili, a fellow MP of the party, said Samnidze had “confirmed” what his party had said over the months, and added GD members had been “informed” by European partners of opposition MPs being engaged in a “malicious campaign” against the state.
Davit Matikashvili, another GD lawmaker, added Samnidze's statement was “equivalent to a confession”, and that certain domestic opposition groups were trying to “catch fish in murky water”, which he said they would not achieve.
Irakli Nadiradze, a representative of the United National Movement - the largest opposition representation in the legislative body and labelled a “radical force” by GD - on Wednesday claimed his party was only “ensuring” EU structures granted Georgia the requested status, while also urging Samnidze to name the individuals in her claims.
Georgia officially requested EU membership in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, along with the latter and Moldova.
In its decision in June of the same year, the European Council granted Ukraine and Moldova the bloc’s full candidacy, while Tbilisi obtained only a European perspective and a reform agenda to fulfil for the EU candidacy.
The Georgian Government called the bloc’s decision “historic” but “unfair and not merit-based”, while officials from the ruling party have said they hope the country will be granted the “deserved” status later this year.
The European Commission has been scheduled to present its final report on Georgia’s implementation of the outlined conditions in early November, with the European Commission using the document in December to decide on the status.
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.
Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the introduction of electronic voter registration and voting in the country starting with the 2024 parliamentary elections was a “qualitatively new electoral system” of a “top standard”, in comments to critical reactions to the initiative by a part of the domestic opposition.
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, on Thursday said the body had granted the European Union membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and was ready to grant the same status to Georgia once the outstanding priorities outlined by the European Commission were addressed by the Georgian Government.
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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday claimed “all issues” raised during the September visit of Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative and the Vice President of the European Commission, around the Georgian Government's fulfilment of the bloc’s conditions for granting the country its membership candidate status had been “addressed”.
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 Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said he wanted to “reassure everyone” that despite the internal and external enemies and sabotage, Georgia would receive the European Union candidate membership status.