Georgian PM: new Parliament needs “no legitimacy” from opposition, “only from people”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said the country’s new Parliament, elected in last month’s general election, required “no legitimacy” from opposition parties, which have boycotted the results, asserting the legislative body derived its authority “solely from the Georgian people”.

In his press comments on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, the PM stressed the opposition’s refusal to accept their mandates reflected “poorly on themselves rather than the institution”. 

The Georgian people have granted full legitimacy to the Parliament of Georgia and its majority. The opposition is, in fact, damaging its own reputation day by day. What we might have had to do, they are now doing to themselves”, the official noted. 

Responding to claims over the authority to convene the new Parliament, Kobakhidze challenged assertions by the Transparency International Georgia that the legislative body could not convene without a call from the President. 

He described the President’s role in the process as “only formal” and asserted the Constitution superseded any presidential decree.

The President's act cannot, under any circumstances, override the Constitution of Georgia. Anyone familiar with basic jurisprudence would understand that the Constitution is paramount. If someone claims otherwise, they have issues with their qualifications, integrity, or perhaps both”, the PM said. 

He further dismissed recent opposition moves to annul their party lists as a “mere publicity tactic with no legal impact”, and stressed domestic laws included “anti-sabotage mechanisms” for such cases, as previously used in legislative disputes. 

Georgia’s Constitution and laws contain the mechanisms, which were applied four years ago and will be applied again if necessary. It is impossible to cancel party lists before the first parliamentary session that recognises MPs’ mandates”, he added. 

The Central Election Commission of Georgia on Tuesday also said electoral laws did not allow for party list cancellations before the new Parliament convenes. The comments came following moves by opposition groups the Unity-National Movement and the Coalition for Change on Tuesday to cancel their party lists in protest of what they described as a “rigged vote”.

The PM further noted the current opposition “cannot sustain the country’s political life for much longer”, indicating “it should be replaced by new, constructive political forces”. 

The opposition is, in fact, leading this transition with its own actions”, the PM asserted. 

He further described the opposition as being in a “difficult situation”, noting its “inability" to cooperate with the Prosecutor's Office over their claims on “rigged elections”, "even following the United States State Department’s urging".

There is no evidence to support the opposition’s claims. The pre-election period was marked by an unprecedentedly calm environment, with no significant violations observed. On election day, procedures were carried out electronically, with over 90 percent of voters registered and votes counted via electronic systems. This process was executed with absolute precision, and results were counted swiftly, leaving no grounds for dispute”, Kobakhidze explained.

The official added the opposition, “in its struggle against the electronic voting system”, had ended up in a “helpless position” due to the “transparency and accuracy of the process”.