Georgian Dream, never deviating from European values, will continue to consider citizens’ will - ruling party official
Kaladze thanked citizens who had not allowed the “destructive forces” to radicalise the protest and also, the law enforcement officers of the Interior Ministry who had ensured the protection of the rule of law and the European fundamental values with “high professionalism”. Photo via Tbilisi City Hall
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The ruling Georgian Dream party and its Government have never deviated from European choice and values, Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the party said on Thursday, stressing the Government always considered the will of the Georgian people and would continue to do so in the future.
In his social media post, Kaladze was responding to the party’s decision [stated earlier today] to “unconditionally” withdraw the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence from the Parliament. The decision once again confirmed that “individuals, their health and life” have been the ruling party’s “main value”, he noted.
A full-fledged membership of the European family is the choice of the Georgian people and has no alternative”, Kaladze emphasised.
The “disinformation campaign” mounted [by certain groups] around the bill raised questions in the public and caused confusion, resulting in “heartfelt” citizens’ protest, he said, stressing it was the Government’s “responsibility” to elucidate the truth for citizens amid “the flood of lies”.
Fortunately, we were able to prevent the protest of the society, the young people, from turning into chaos and irreparably damaging confrontation, which is the merit of conscientious citizens, law enforcement officers, responsible authorities and the Georgian Orthodox church - all of us”, the GD official said.
Kaladze thanked citizens who had not allowed the “destructive forces” to radicalise the protest and also, the law enforcement officers of the Interior Ministry who had ensured the protection of the rule of law and the European fundamental values with “high professionalism”.
The ruling party today announced it was “unconditionally” withdrawing the controversial bill, which had been proposed by the People's Power movement and met with a backlash by domestic opposition, civil sector and diplomatic representations in the country, as well as public rallies outside the legislative body.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday called on domestic opposition “to refrain from speculations”, stressing a “political decision” made by the party to withdraw the bill on transparency of foreign influence from the Parliament, could not be revised “under any circumstances”.
Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policy, on Thursday welcomed the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.
The ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday said it was “unconditionally” withdrawing the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence that was met by a backlash by domestic opposition, civil sector and diplomatic representations in the country, citing the interest of maintaining domestic “tranquillity”, the country’s development and its European integration aspirations as factors behind the decision.
Ned Price, the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, on Thursday said the US welcomed the decision by the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw the draft law on transparency of foreign influence and encouraged the country’s political leaders to work together “in earnest” on reforms “urgently needed” to obtain the European Union membership candidate status.
Georgia’s “any comparison” with Russia is “absolutely unacceptable” from anyone, whether from a Georgian politician or a foreign diplomat, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Saturday while responding to Public Broadcaster journalist’s questions on Western partners' criticism, including statements made by the US Embassy in Georgia over the controversial draft law on transparency of foreign influence, calling the bill “Russian law” and “inspired by Kremlin”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday highlighted former PM and ruling Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili’s role, as well as the party’s accomplishments on the path of the country’s democratic development.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday highlighted the status of Georgia’s European course being enshrined in the constitution, noting it was “not subject to any revision”.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said the former United National Movement Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and UNM Chair Levan Khabeishvili had a “desire” to cause a change in the domestic political scene through “staging a confrontation, a revolution, a coup”.
The European Union delegation to Georgia on Thursday welcomed the announcement by the ruling Georgian Dream party on withdrawal of the draft legislation on transparency of foreign influence.