UPDATED: parliament rejects opposition request to suspend status for 51 opposition MPs
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that they have decided not to vote for the suspension of status for opposition MPs after long consultations. Photo: Irakli Kobakhidze’s Facebook page.
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updated: 17:07
The Georgian parliament has not suspended the MP status of 51 opposition MPs earlier today per their request.
None of the ruling party MPs, who are 90 in the 150-member parliament, voted for the cancellation of MP status.
Member of the United National Movement opposition party Roman Gotsiridze has stated that the ruling party ‘is afraid of the reactions of international partners’ and that is why they refused to vote for the suspension of status for opposition MPs.
However, he said that the political crisis will not be solved if the ruling party will not accept the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections.
The leader of Strategy Agmashenebeli opposition party Giorgi Vashadze said that ‘now the ruling party will have to make some new offer to the opposition.’
Earlier: 13:57
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that ‘at this stage’ they will not vote for the suspension of status for 51 opposition MPs per their request.
The opposition MPs from six of eight opposition parties and election blocs have requested the suspension of their status.
They say that the October 31 parliamentary elections were fabricated and are demanding repeat elections.
Six of 60 opposition MPs have entered parliament so far.
- Four members of pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots opposition leave party, enter parliament
- Two more opposition MPs enter parliament
The head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze stated earlier today that 20 other opposition MPs also wish to take up their mandates.
However, as we know, due to the bullying and blackmail they are unable to take the step. Our refusal to vote for the suspension of MP status for opposition will be another chance for the opposition legislators to enter parliament,” Kobakhidze said.
Two opposition MPs from Citizens party have taken up their mandates and came to parliament earliet today. Photo: IPN.
He stated that the opposition, with the use of procedural instruments, are trying to sabotage the state legislature.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has given even more severe assessment to the Georgian opposition’s actions and stated that it is an attempt to undermine democracy,” Kobakhidze stated.
However, he said that Georgia has a well-written constitution which has genuine levers against the procedural instruments which may contradict democracy.
Kobakhidze said that the Georgian Dream has taken the view of international partners into account when they decided not to vote for the cancellation of the MP status for opposition MPs.
Member of the United National Movement opposition party Salome Samadashvili has stated that Kobakhidze 'has lied' when he said that 20 opposition MPs want to enter parliament.
She stated that the ruling party 'is trying to escape its responsibilities for the current political crisis' when it refuses to vote for the suspension of MP status for opposition MPs.
Fellow member of the European Georgia opposition party Irma Nadirashvili said that the ruling party is violating a law when it tries to ignore the 'legal request' of opposition MPs.
Three MPs from the Girchi libertarian party have asked the ruling Georgian Dream party not to vote for the suspension of MP status for 51 opposition MPs tomorrow per their request.
Opposition MPs from Citizens party Aleko Elisashvili and Levan Ioseliani have decided to enter parliament, Elisashvili has confirmed with journalists earlier today.
Six of eight opposition parties and election blocs who have won seats in the 10th convocation of the Georgian parliament have released a joint statement earlier today in which they said that ‘only the conduct of repeat, democratic parliamentary elections can solve the current political crisis’.
Four members of the pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots opposition party, who were on the party’s election list for the October 31, 2020 parliamentary elections, have left the party earlier today and entered the parliament amid the opposition’s boycott.
Former member and a contributor of pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots opposition party Avtandil Enukidze was elected vice-parliament speaker earlier today.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell, who is one of the facilitators in the ongoing election talks between the ruling party and the opposition, says that the refusal of parliament to vote for the suspension of status for 51 opposition MPs yesterday was ‘the right step.’
United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said earlier today that the refusal of parliament to vote for the suspension of status for 51 opposition MPs yesterday ‘was an opportunity that will allow the parties a little bit more time to bridge their differences if they can’.
Lelo for Georgia political party leader and co-founder of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze has urged for a large-scale, national reconciliation in Georgia after the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections.
Members of the European Parliament working on Georgian issues - Sven Mikser, Andrius Kubilius, Markéta Gregorová, Michael Gahler, Petras Auštrevičius and Viola von Cramon - have expressed their concern regarding the ‘careless breach of privacy’ regarding opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi TV director Nika Gvaramia by ruling party MP Tea Tsulukiani, as well as her ‘unflattering attitude’ towards the EU ambassador to Georgia.
Two members of opposition Republican Party Khatuna Samnidze and Tamar Kordzaia are ready to enter parliament if the ruling Georgian Dream party proposes a bill on zero electoral threshold for proportional list. However, following the voting they would again revoke their mandates.
Changes to the Georgian election code, per an agreement with the ruling Georgian Dream and Citizens opposition party have been introduced to the state legislature.