Parliament Speaker claims “disinformation” has become “main tool for deepening polarisation, weakening institutions” in country
Papuashvili noted without NATO's nuclear umbrella or the European Union's economic solidarity system, having a “responsible foreign policy” was the “only way to save” the country in a “historical struggle with a disproportionately superior opponent”. Photo: Georgian Parliament
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday told the legislative body “disinformation” had become the “main tool for deepening polarisation in the country’s domestic politics, weakening state institutions and damaging foreign policy goals”.
In his annual report on the work of the lawmaking institution, Papuashvili said the domestic opposition had alleged a “pro-Russian bias” of the ruling Georgian Dream party “for years”, and noted the attempts were manifested in domestic political “propaganda” broadcast from “opposition-leaning televisions” and heard from “foreign actors aligned with the opposition”.
The position of the parliamentary majority was and is a policy of strategic patience, which for more than a decade has represented a policy agreed with our strategic partners [while] taking into account Georgia's grave geopolitical challenges and national interests”, he told MPs.
Papuashvili noted without NATO's nuclear umbrella or the European Union's economic solidarity system, having a “responsible foreign policy” was the “only way to save” the country in a “historical struggle with a disproportionately superior opponent”.
He also said the approach was needed to achieve the “cherished goals” of restoring the country's territorial integrity, improving the well-being of citizens and joining the “European family”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the country’s Government had managed to secure the “historic” achievement of receiving the European Union membership candidate status last year “without harming the country's interests, weakening democracy or shrinking the economy”.
Davit Matikashvili, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the country would receive the European Union membership candidate status later this year, leading to a "bitter defeat" for the domestic “radical” opposition.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday urged members of domestic opposition groups to refrain from making “false allegations over failed reforms” and hampering the country’s work to obtain the European Union membership candidate status later this year, an objective he called “vitally important”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the “radicalisation” of a part of the domestic opposition in Georgia, not political polarisation, was the “main problem” in the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said 2024 should “become the year of rapprochement” with the European Union and NATO, in comments of his 2023 report in the legislative body.
Ladies and Gentlemen, my today’s speech is my last report as a Speaker of the Parliament before the 2024 parliamentary elections. This is why, in addition to presenting 2023 report, I will use this opportunity to summarise the processes developed around and with participation of current convocation of Parliament that was full of political and historic developments.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday alleged “radicalism, not polarisation” was the problem of domestic politics in the country.