Georgian PM says ruling party has “unwavering support of people”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said the ruling Georgian Dream party had “unwavering support of the population”, while domestic opposition, “especially its radical part”, was “doomed for failure” in the parliamentary elections scheduled for October. 

He said GD had support ratings of “between 55 and 60 percent”, while the most recent ratings of the opposition United National Movement party stood at 18 percent and “no other party” was in position to overcome the 5 percent election barrier.

The PM acknowledged the time left before the elections, but added the ruling party “do not expect any significant changes” in the approval ratings. 

He also claimed return of UNM to power remained an “unfulfilled dream” of Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, while saying the scenario remained “impossible”. 

Kobakhidze alleged Zourabichvili had “campaigned” last year “against” the European Union membership candidate status for Georgia, adding her “rhetoric coincided with the rhetoric of the domestic opposition”.

He further claimed the President was “not just critical toward the Georgian Government but a constituent part of the collective United National Movement”.