Georgian parties sign President’s charter to unify ahead of elections
The charter deals with “repealing the damaging” laws of Georgia’s European course, liberation and restoration of trust in the justice system, electoral system improvement and creating a new political reality. Photo: IPN
Tweet 
Share
Some of the largest opposition parties in Georgia have formally signed a charter proposed by President Salome Zourabichvili to unite them ahead of the October parliamentary elections, the President’s office announced on Monday.
The office said the signing at the Orbeliani Palace residence of the President involved 17 parties - including the Droa, Girchi - More Freedom, Lelo for Georgia, Ahali, Strategy Aghmashenebeli and United National Movement parties - and five independent MPs.
The list of signatory parties also includes Georgian Green Party, For Justice, European Democrats, Law and Justice, Citizens, For People, Freedom – Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s Way, European Georgia, Republican Party, State for the People Movement and National Democratic Party.
MPs Nato Chkheidze, Rostom Chkheidze, Tamar Kordzaia, Khatia Dekanoidze and Armaz Akhvlediani joined the charter as independent signatories.
Girchi and Gakharia for Georgia parties did not join the unifying plan on Monday.
The charter calls for abolishing “laws harmful to the European path” of the country, “liberating the judiciary” and “restoring trust”, ensuring a “fundamental reform” of the Supreme Council of Justice and creating “appropriate conditions for holding free and fair elections”.
The Georgian Charter is an action plan President Zourabichvili introduced on May 26 offering political parties to reconcile around the document. The large number of the opposition parties hesitated to sign due to the questions regarding several issues presented by the charter. Girchi opposition party MP Iago Khvichia was among them and noted consultation with the President was needed about the document.
Zourabichvili said the agreement on the Georgian Charter does not require and does not mean either a single list or any other form of necessary associations. Also, based on the charter, the government formation process would be carried out in coordination with the President.
The charter deals with “repealing the damaging” laws of Georgia’s European course, liberation and restoration of trust in the justice system, electoral system improvement and creating a new political reality.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said a potential unification of domestic opposition parties around a charter submitted by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to “rebuild trust and to forge a new political reality” in the county ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections “confirmed” the parties were “one team”.
The opposition United National Movement, Akhali, Lelo, Droa, Girchi - More Freedom, European Georgia and Strategy Agmashenebeli parties on Sunday expressed their readiness to sign a charter submitted by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to “rebuild trust and to forge a new political reality” in the county ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday claimed the controversial domestic law on transparency of foreign influence would contribute to “increasing the responsibility of international donors” of domestic non-governmental organisations “in a qualitative manner”.
Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker Archil Talakvadze on Tuesday said the country needed the “same protection mechanisms” that existed in the European Union, in comments over the controversial domestic law on transparency of foreign influence.