Georgian PM welcomes absence of “collective UNM” in Parliament for “first time in 20 years”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday welcomed the absence of the “collective United National Movement”, in reference to the former ruling party and its “affiliated groups”, from the country’s Parliament “for the first time in two decades”, calling it a “crucial moment for the country’s democratic development”. 

The Georgian Parliament this month approved early termination of mandates for 49 out of 61 opposition MPs who refused to acknowledge the results of last year’s parliamentary elections and take their seats. The groups included Unity - National Movement, Coalition for Change, and Strong Georgia. The Gakharia for Georgia party, which secured 12 seats in the elections, did not seek suspension of its MPs but has continued to boycott the Parliament, demanding a rerun of the elections.

During a Government session, Kobakhidze emphasised the shift marked the “fulfilment of a promise made to the Georgian people” ahead of the October 2024 elections.

For the first time in the past 20 years, the collective UNM is not represented in the Georgian Parliament, which is vital for the smooth development of the country’s democratic system”, the PM said. 

He further expressed confidence that the absence of what he described as the “radical opposition” would “accelerate the domestic democratic process” and dismissed alleged “destructive plans” of political opponents, asserting their efforts would “not succeed”.