Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the Gakharia for Georgia party, has issued a defiant statement asserting that neither political opponents nor external forces can compel his party to cancel its parliamentary lists. His remarks come amid a contentious political standoff in Georgia, with the opposition grappling over strategies in a fractious environment.
Opposition Responsibility and Gakharia’s Stance
Gakharia strongly criticized the notion that canceling parliamentary lists absolves the opposition of its role in Georgia’s political crisis. He emphasized that this move does little to address voter dissatisfaction, which he described as widespread and palpable.
“Canceling the lists won’t erase the opposition’s share of responsibility for the crisis we’re in today,” Gakharia told reporters. He accused political actors of prioritizing symbolic gestures over tangible solutions for the nation’s challenges.
A Parliament Lacking Legitimacy?
The political turmoil has raised questions about the legitimacy of Georgia’s current parliament. Gakharia reiterated his party’s earlier claims that this parliament lacks credibility.
- Gakharia stated:
“We were the first to declare that this parliament would have no legitimacy, and we reaffirmed that yesterday.”
However, he insisted that decisions regarding the party’s participation or withdrawal from the parliamentary framework would be made independently.
No External Influence Will Be Tolerated
In a pointed remark, Gakharia dismissed any attempts to pressure his party, whether from the United National Movement (UNM), Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream, or other political entities.
- He declared:
“We will leave the mandates then and in such a form as we consider necessary. We will not ask this of either the National Movement or Ivanishvili and his party.”
This position underscores Gakharia’s desire to position his party as a force distinct from Georgia’s entrenched political camps.
Broader Opposition Movements
While Gakharia resists external pressure, other opposition leaders are taking decisive steps. Members of the Unity-National Movement, including Giorgi Vashadze, and the Coalition for Change and Strong Georgia, have formally requested the termination of their parliamentary mandates.
This intensifies the broader political debate over strategies to address the crisis, leaving voters with pressing questions about the country’s democratic processes.
