Parliament Committee Chair claims ruling party “sole” political force “fully embracing European values”, “principles of democracy”

Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday claimed the ruling Georgian Dream party was the “sole” political force in the country that “fully embraced European values and the principles of democracy”.

In her address at a session of the legislative body, Botchorishvili claimed “many lies and manipulations” were being practised by the domestic opposition over the question of the country’s integration into European Union in an “attempt to mislead Georgian voters” ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26.

“But what is more alarming is that the issue of the European Union is exploited not only by the Georgian opposition but also through the blatant involvement of external forces in this process. This is done so crudely that we can boldly describe the actions of some so-called foreign friends as interference in Georgia’s elections and attempts to influence the results”, the official alleged.

Georgia is a European country, the Georgian people are a European nation, and our aspiration towards the European Union is determined by our country’s centuries-long history, which is primarily a history of struggle for European values”, Botchorishvili continued.

The Parliament official further stressed that the “interests and voice” of Georgian citizens were of “paramount importance”, and the protection of human rights was “not just a declaration” for the ruling party.

“The fact is that today, the Georgian opposition is entirely monopolised by the collective United National Movement. This is the very force that Georgian citizens remember for its governance through repressive mechanisms”, she told the legislative body.

These words are backed by statistics, and if you do not wish to take our word for it, turn to the European Court of Human Rights and its data. The numbers will tell you why the Georgian opposition has nothing to do with European values and why you cannot believe their false pro-Europeanness”, she claimed.  

Botchorishvili also highlighted achievements of the ruling party on the European integration path, in particular the 2014 Association Agreement with the EU and 2017 visa-free travel deal with the bloc.

“Similarly, the candidate status for EU membership is not a historic achievement [that was] earned [in 2023] simply by [the Government] waving the European Union flag. The country’s progress would have been much easier if not for the tireless and relentless struggle by the Georgian opposition, as represented by the collective United National Movement, against the Georgian state and its interests”, the Parliament official noted.

She further added that the country needed “peace and stability” so that “no one may put our nation’s European future at risk”.