Giorgi Gakharia, the leader of the For Georgia party and former Prime Minister, on Tuesday asserted his party would not yield to “pressure” over the removal of parliamentary lists, emphasizing their autonomy in decision-making as all other opposition groups taking up parliamentary seats had appealed to the election administration to withdraw party lists to boycott the new parliament in protest of “rigged elections”.
Speaking to journalists, Gakharia criticized opposition factions, suggesting that their discussions about list removal reflect a lack of substantive solutions for public discontent.
“No one can pressure us to remove the lists. The issue is being raised by those who have nothing tangible to offer angry voters, who are justifiably frustrated,” Gakharia stated.
“Talking about removing the lists will not absolve the opposition of responsibility for the crisis we are facing today. If anyone believes they can evade accountability for this crisis by removing the lists, they are gravely mistaken.”
He also dismissed any attempts by the ruling Georgian Dream party or the opposition United National Movement to influence his party’s decisions.
“If anyone, be it the UNM or Ivanishvili and his party, thinks they can pressure us into acting on their terms, they are wrong. This parliament lacks legitimacy, as we made clear yesterday. As for the lists, we will act when and in the manner we consider necessary. We will not seek permission from anyone,” Gakharia concluded.
