Georgian PM calls EU bodies to “distance themselves from unfair decisions” in European Parliament
Kobakhidze said the “main task” of his Government was to “maintain the 85 percent public support” for EU integration “despite the fact that the European Parliament is trying to lower this figure”. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday called executive bodies of the European Union to “distance themselves from unfair decisions” in the European Parliament, in response to an amendment introduced by MEP Anna Fotyga to a resolution to urge the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to pardon the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Kobakhidze said the “main task” of his Government was to “maintain the 85 percent public support” for EU integration “despite the fact that the European Parliament is trying to lower this figure”.
“I think it would be very good if the executive bodies of the European Union would distance themselves from the European Parliament in such unfair decisions”, he said.
“First of all, this will have a positive effect on public perception. The 85 percent public support for EU integration must remain strong. We are doing our best for this, but the European Parliament is preventing us from doing so”, Kobakhidze claimed.
The Government head further noted “certain odious MEPs” could “harm the perception” of the EU and the European Parliament in the country.
The European Parliament should be perceived as a fair body by the Georgian public. If the messages that sometimes resonate in closed meetings are also heard in front of the public, this will have a positive impact on the public's perception of the European Parliament and European bodies”, the PM continued.
Kobakhidze also said the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola had “expressed a very healthy position” regarding “processes that developed especially in 2022 in the European Parliament” in the meeting between the two officials in Brussels last month, before adding “these were not healthy processes”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the European Union “has to officially distance itself” from “slanderous” allegations made my members of the European Parliament, in response to an amendment introduced by MEP Anna Fotyga to a resolution to urge the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to pardon the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday warned against attempts of “illegal” change of the Government and interference in the parliamentary elections in October.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Parliament's Human Rights Committee, on Thursday denounced an amendment introduced by Anna Fotyga, a member of the European Parliament, to a resolution to urge the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to pardon the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, as “provocative”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday highlighted the Government's “unwavering leadership” in ensuring good governance and transparency and combating corruption, in response to the latest Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom that ranked the country 38th globally.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said the ruling party’s legislative initiative to “protect the public from pseudo-liberal ideology” should be developed in accordance with the constitutional principles of human rights.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday told a conference organised by the Georgian Business Association the country had “strong institutions” that were able to “protect national interests unwaveringly and firmly”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Friday highlighted the ruling party’s “principled position” of “protecting future generations from harmful effects” he said came from “LGBT propaganda and not protection of rights”.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Saturday said the Government desired to have “very constructive and good relations” with the European Parliament and all European Union institutions, as it was “necessary” for Georgia’s integration into the bloc.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday dismissed calls by some members of the European Parliament for release of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili by saying Georgia was “not a country to be looked down on”.