Ruling party founder’s return to politics “distressing opposition” - Parliament Speaker
Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stressed Ivanishvili’s role remained “pivotal” in Georgian politics, praising his “consolidating” function for the ruling power and the public. Photo: Parliament press office
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Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday claimed the decision of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister, in December to return to politics as the party’s Honorary Chair had caused “distress” among domestic opposition.
In his comments for the Georgian Public Broadcaster, the official stressed Ivanishvili’s role remained “pivotal” in Georgian politics, praising his “consolidating” function for the ruling power and the public.
Papuashvili highlighted while Ivanishvili's assistance could be less crucial for the party in terms of electoral support ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections, citing “low public approval” of opposition parties, his “consolidating role” remained “vital” amid existing domestic and global challenges.
The Speaker claimed Georgia stood “as an oasis of peace” amid expected “challenging geopolitical conditions” due to upcoming elections in several countries, the conflict in Ukraine, “the situation in Israel and between Iran and Pakistan”.
He said the peaceful condition in Georgia “needs to be sustained”, adding the objective required “particular concentration and unity this year” among the domestic public.
The representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Saturday highlighted the importance of the return of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the GD party, to politics, who earlier today was elected the honorary Chair of the party.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the newly elected honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, the former Prime Minister and the founder of the GD party, on Saturday said despite “being de-facto sanctioned” in the “harshest ways” and by “bypassing all the laws”, he was doing “very well” and was returning to politics to further help Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said the “main goal, mission and dream” of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, before and after coming into politics, were the unification of the country.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday was elected the honorary Chair of the GD party at the congress meeting of the ruling party.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Saturday said the return of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister, to politics in December as the party’s Honorary Chair was creating “a huge potential” for the success of the GD party.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the “direct” involvement of Bidzina Ivanishvili - the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party - in politics could bring “positive processes” to the country “in many ways”.