Georgia's Acting PM: “same zero value” in opposition Parliament or boycotting

Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s Acting Prime Minister, on Wednesday argued it “does not matter whether or not the [domestic] opposition will be in the Parliament” that convened for its first session on Monday, saying their presence or boycotting of the legislative body in rejection of the results of the last month’s parliamentary elections had“exactly the same, zero value”.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze, drew parallels between the opposition groups’ current posture and that following the  2020 elections,  and said their “attempts at the delegitimisation of state institutions, [and] incitement of polarisation did not cease” after they eventually joined the legislative body four years ago, as they “still continued to use the street [protests] and the Parliament in the same way”.

Four years ago we decided not to revoke their [parliamentary] mandates. At that time, the ‘top brains’, so-called constitutionalists, who are now saying the recognition of the legitimacy of mandates was unconstitutional this time, had been saying the non-termination of mandates by the Parliament was unconstitutional [in 2020]”, the Acting Prime Minister noted.

The head of the Government added “eventually, the opposition had benefited from our decision when they entered the Parliament,  and for three and a half years used their mandates, took salaries, even requested compensation for the six months they had missed, which they received in full,  thanks to our ‘unconstitutional decision’”.

Kobakhidze added the Parliament had not yet discussed the issue of repealing the mandates, confirming 20 opposition applications had been submitted with the request, with more expected to come in on Thursday.

He added the ruling Georgian Dream party would hold the vote on the matter in the next two weeks.