Opposition party ban process will help ‘restore health’ of Georgia’s political system, PM

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said proceedings to ban five opposition political forces are intended to improve the country’s political system, arguing that the opposition has become discredited and lacks public support.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Kobakhidze said the ruling Georgian Dream party might benefit politically from having a weakened opposition, but argued that such a situation was unhealthy for democracy.

“Subjectively, such a completely weakened opposition might actually be advantageous for us. However, this is not good for our democratic and political system,” Kobakhidze said.

“Our political system needs not this kind of opposition, but a healthy, strong opposition that communicates with the people. This is precisely what the process initiated at the Constitutional Court is intended to achieve,” he added.

Kobakhidze said opposition representatives were providing evidence against themselves through their own statements during the proceedings, including their remarks about the Constitutional Court and the general courts.

“I have been following the speeches, including those by representatives of these forces. The ironic thing is that they are proving with their own words why they should be banned,” he said, adding that the hearings would provide the public with further evidence supporting the case for banning the parties.

The PM also criticised European officials over their comments on the proceedings, accusing them of attempting to interfere in the independence of Georgia’s judiciary.

“What we have heard cannot be called criticism. It is a direct and blatant political attempt to interfere in the independence of the court and the administration of justice,” Kobakhidze said.

He described the comments as exposing what he called the “darker face of the European bureaucracy”.

In a separate statement, Kobakhidze accused part of the opposition of being “foreign agents” rather than genuine political opponents, claiming they had lost public trust by addressing foreign powers instead of Georgian voters.

“When you do not talk to the people and constantly talk to foreign forces, your patrons abroad, you inevitably lose public trust, including the trust of those who previously supported you,” he said.

Kobakhidze said steps should be taken to improve the political landscape and democratic system, describing the Constitutional Court proceedings as an important step in that direction.