Ivanishvili threatens opposition with revenge
On August 21, Bidzina Ivanishvili, along with other leaders of the “Georgian Dream” party, addressed supporters in Mtskheta. In their speeches, party leaders emphasized the key messages of their campaign, as outlined in the latest statement from their political council.
They particularly noted that the “Georgian Dream” aims to secure a constitutional majority in the upcoming elections to ban the “United National Movement” and all “affiliated” parties. Additionally, they intend to limit LGBT rights in the name of traditional values and the protection of minors, and to prepare the groundwork for the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity by making appropriate amendments to the Constitution.
The campaign themes of “Ending the National Movement” and “Banning LGBT Propaganda” have been central to the “Georgian Dream” platform from the start. However, the focus on restoring territorial integrity is relatively new.
In his speech, Ivanishvili elaborated on this issue, stating: “In the context of restoring territorial integrity, the country’s governance system and territorial arrangement must be revised, which is impossible without constitutional changes.” He further asserted that the opposition, which he referred to as a “collective UNM,” would “inevitably oppose national interests and obstruct the restoration of territorial integrity, which can not be allowed.”
According to Ivanishvili, this is why the “Georgian Dream” requires a constitutional majority.
Ivanishvili also declared that the October 26 elections should serve as a “Nuremberg trial” for the “United National Movement,” where the constitutional majority of the Georgian people would deliver a definitive judgement on what he described as a group of “stateless politicians” who are foreign agents. He added that “healthy elections” would only occur in Georgia after the “United National Movement” is replaced by patriotic political forces within the political system.
Ivanishvili concluded by stating: “Anti-Christian forces are attempting to erase all identity from nations, states, and individuals. Their goal is to reduce people to beings devoid of dignity and morality, stripped of any national, religious, or personal identity.”
Prime Minister threatens opposition with ban after elections
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze confirmed that the “Georgian Dream” plans to ban all opposition parties.
According to him, “In reality, all these entities are one political force—a collective United National Movement. They are directly connected to each other, which is also legally proven. Therefore, the legal complaint or lawsuit will be properly substantiated, and it will be demonstrated that the collective UNM is engaged in criminal activity together.”
When asked by journalists which parties “Georgian Dream” intends to ban if victorious in the elections, Prime Minister Kobakhidze mentioned the coalition around the “United National Movement” and also the “Collective United National Movement,” which includes parties like “Akhali,” “Girchi,” and “Droa.” He noted that “all these leaders have a past linked to the ‘National Movement,’ and all these politicians have present connections with the ‘National Movement.'”
The Prime Minister also stated that the decision to ban these parties might not rest solely with the Constitutional Court, the body with the legal authority to make such decisions. Instead, “the investigation could be initiated by the prosecutor’s office, or a parliamentary commission could be established to examine the matter.”
Kobakhidze further confirmed that the confiscation of parliamentary mandates would be a logical consequence of such a ban. “Criminal members of a criminal political force cannot enjoy the status of a member of the Parliament of Georgia,” the Prime Minister asserted.
Bokeria and Chergoleishvili founded a new party
Former leaders of the “European Georgia” party have formed a new party called the “Federalists.” The presentation of this new opposition party took place on August 15.
During the event, one of the founders, Tamar Chergoleishvili, explained the reasoning behind the party’s name:
“Why Federalists? Recently, two children were burned in Zugdidi. We witnessed a day of Facebook discussions, characterised by virtue signalling on social media. Everyone had their own solution, but after one day of concern, the big problems continue to occur. There is, however, one real solution—to value human life, whether it’s a child, a teenager, or an elderly person, so that people can fully realise their right to life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. To achieve this, the centralised, self-enclosed state must be dismantled, and a new state established—a new republic based on strong citizenship.” she said.
Chergoleishvili also mentioned that they would announce their participation in the parliamentary elections in September: “We understand that it may be inconvenient for you if we skip the elections, so we will do everything to ensure that is unnecessary.”
She also noted that the founding congress of the “Federalists” party is likely to be held on September 15.
On August 2, it was revealed that Giga Bokeria and Tamar Chergoleishvili had left the “European Georgia” party three months before the parliamentary elections, after losing the party’s internal primary.