Georgian President unveils opposition unity plans ahead of general elections

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Sunday introduced an action plan, the Georgian Charter, during an Independence Day event ahead of the October general elections and amidst her allegations over the current Georgian Dream government’s alleged pro-Kremlin sentiments. 

In her address, President Zourabichvili emphasized the importance of concrete plans and the shared responsibility of guiding the nation toward its future. She highlighted the need for a peaceful and stable path to the elections on October 26, urging everyone to mobilize while maintaining peace and stability. Acknowledging the prevailing distrust in politicians and the lack of a clear formula for victory, Zourabichvili stressed the urgency of unity and collective effort, discouraging nihilism and individual political ambitions.

She explained the responsibilities that the Georgian Charter imposes on political parties and clarified that signing the charter did not obligate politicians to unite in a common alliance. Instead, each party was free to choose its own election tactics and strategy independently.

The Georgian Charter proposed that political parties agreed on key issues essential for European integration, the establishment of democracy, and the creation of a just state. To fulfill the charter and restore trust, Zourabichvili called for a new political reality characterized by different unity, a different parliament, different elections, and a different government.

Zourabichvili described this new unity as one focused solely on the implementation of the charter and the European future, without requiring political associations or single lists. She asserted that political parties should independently decide their strategies and tactics after signing the charter.

She also emphasized that the current political and electoral environment did not allow for ordinary elections where candidates could fully present their programs and personalities. Instead, these elections should be seen as a popular referendum on the question of European integration. Voting for any party that signed the charter would essentially be a vote for the Georgian Charter and a European future, she said. 

The envisioned parliament would be elected for a specific term to fulfill the European plan outlined in the charter. This parliament would then return the mandate to the voters and hold new, extraordinary elections in a freer environment. Zourabichvili believed this short-term mandate would mitigate risks, such as the potential for any force to remain in power indefinitely.

The proposed government would be a new model, composed not of political parties but of professionals selected from society, with the recruitment process coordinated with the president. This government would aim to be peaceful, purposeful, productive, and highly European, ensuring that differing opinions are expressed democratically at the polling stations rather than through destabilizing confrontations.President Zourabichvili asserted that this plan offered a peaceful solution and pledged to protect this path towards survival and a return to Europe. She noted that the plan aligned with the opportunities presented by strategic ally America and reaffirmed Georgia’s constitutionally guaranteed foreign policy course. She planned to present the Georgian Charter to Georgia’s partners in Brussels, detailing the specific reforms it entails.

The parliamentary elections in Georgia are scheduled for October 26, 2024, with deputies elected solely by a proportional system. Parliamentary mandates will be distributed among political parties that cross the five percent threshold.