Georgia's ruling party ready to sign new EU proposal

The ruling Georgian Dream party has stated that they are ready to sign the new proposal by the EU to solve the political tension in Georgia which began after the 2020 parliamentary elections.

The agreement released by the European Council President Charles Michel on the weekend offers a pardon for all violations and convictions stemming from the 19-21 June 2019 protests in Tbilisi and says that if the ruling party fails to receive at least 43 per cent of votes in this year’s municipal elections, they should accept the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections.

The ruling party said earlier today that they were ready to accept the conduct of repeal elections if they received at least 40 per cent of votes in municipal elections.

"We are ready to accept the 43 per cent as well," Agenda.ge cited the party as saying.

Three MPs of the Girchi party have already signed, while Lelo opposition has stated they will also sign the new proposal.

The leaders of the United National Movement and European Georgia opposition parties say that the opposition should sign Michel's proposal.

However, they say that consultations are still in progress inside the parties because several members of the parties are against the signing.

Leader of Strategy Agmashenebeli has stated that he approves the signing of the proposal.

The arrest of the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia in February 2021 for his refusal to pay bail for June 2019 charges further complicated the political tension in Georgia.

Along with the conduct of repeat elections and the release of Melia, the opposition also demands the release of the co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua who is convicted for illegal possession and carrying of firearms.

Source - vestnikkavkaza.net

20 April 2021 / 10:14