Ruling party, opposition hold ‘positive, useful’ meeting with mediation of dip corps amid political crisis
The meeting between the ruling party and the opposition took place at the US embassy. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The ruling Georgian Dream party and the leaders of eight opposition parties and blocs who were voted in during the October 31 parliamentary elections have held a third meeting with the mediation of foreign ambassadors earlier today to find a way out of the current political crisis.
The opposition leaders who say that the elections were fabricated and refuse to take up their mandates described the meeting as ‘positive and useful, as several issues have been agreed.’
However, they stated that no consensus has been reached so far on the major demand of the opposition - on the conduct of repeat elections.
Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze stated after the meeting that ‘no repeat elections will take place as the elections were conducted in line with democratic standards.’
However, he stated that the ‘meeting was a step forward.’
Opposition parties are demanding repeat elections. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Executive Secretary of the ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze said that he has positive expectations.
The next meeting will take place tomorrow and I hope that it will end with an agreement,” Kobakhidze said.
Opposition parties took to the street following the elections and demanded repeat elections.
- PACE calls on Georgian opposition to take up mandates in parliament
- US Department of State encourages Georgian opposition to stop rallies, enter parliament
The diplomatic corps is now mediating talks between the ruling party and the opposition to help the end of the crisis.
The ruling party has received 90 seats in the 150-member parliament, while the remaining 60 seats were received by 13 opposition parties (6 political parties and two election blocs).
The Central Election Commission convened a session earlier today to summarise the final results of Georgia’s parliamentary elections. Having summed up the election results at today’s session, the CEC will now send the document to the parliament of Georgia, which will hold the first session of the tenth convocation within ten days.
Opposition politicians - who have qualified for today’s run offs - call on their supporters not to head to polling stations today claiming the October 31 parliamentary elections were falsified. The opposition has unanimously declared their unwillingness to participate in the second round of the elections even though their names remain on the majoritarian ballot papers per law.
Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze says that an agreement may be reached with opposition parties during the third round of negotiations which is being mediated by foreign ambassadors.
Opposition parties which have refused to enter the parliament following the October 31 elections have held a rally in the centre of Tbilisi amid US State Secretary Mike Pompeo’s visit to Georgia earlier today.
The newly elected 10th national legislature of Georgia will hold its first session on December 11, at 12:00, the decree by the president of Georgia reads.
Three days ahead of the first session of the newly elected legislature, the ruling party and opposition met for the fourth time to discuss a possible solution out of the political deadlock in Georgia.