Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Friday claimed launching of President Salome Zourabichvili’s impeachment procedures by the ruling party “shows, not opposes” the country’s Europeanness. 

“Launching the procedures due to the President's violation of the country’s constitution [through leaving for abroad without the Government's consent] means the respect to the main law”, Papuashvili said. 

In remarks following the GD political council session on Friday, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling party, accused Zourabichvili of making an alliance with a “radical wing” of the domestic opposition - in reference to the UNM - and taking actions to “hamper” the country’s obtaining EU candidacy “despite the Government's efforts”. 

He claimed Zourabichvili was attempting to “get political points” through portraying her actions as pro-Western, while “undermining” the country’s European future. 

The opposition, however, accused the ruling party of making obstacles for Georgia’s EU integration, as Zourabichvili claimed she had visited Europe to facilitate the country’s obtaining the EU membership candidate status later this year, after accusing the Government of “demonizing” the West and “only formal fulfillment” of the bloc’s candidacy conditions.