Ruling party official: President’s annual Parliament address “speech of ordinary oppositionist”

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Tuesday labelled Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili's annual address before the Parliament a “speech of an ordinary oppositionist”.

Mdinaradze claimed the “nominal President” - in reference to the impeachment procedures launched by the ruling party against Zourabichvili last year for her unauthorised foreign visits in August and September - had “not said anything positive” in her remarks to MPs.

“We can confidently say that it was a speech of an ordinary radical oppositionist. Not a single word was said about any of the successes of the country in her long speech”, he said.

The party official stressed that in contrast to Zourabichvili, international organisations had “consistently highlighted” Georgia's “progress in various areas”, including the economy and anti-corruption efforts.

It was the speech of an ordinary oppositionist who wants to lead some kind of opposition movement. [...] You will not find any difference between her speech today and the speech of the most radical [opposition figures]”, he continued. 

Mdinaradze also added the President's proposal for a political platform of unity for Georgia’s European integration was “inconsistent with her nominal status”.