French lawmaker calls Georgian ruling party’s refusal to meet “undemocratic”

Frédéric Petit, Vice-President of the European Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly, on Monday voiced criticism of the Georgian ruling party’s refusal to meet with an EU delegation, calling it a “complete rejection” of democratic principles.

The remarks came after Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and members of the ruling party declined to engage with EU representatives, accusing them of “political bias” and attempting to “sow chaos” in the country.

“The European Union is a conflict management tool. Sometimes we can’t agree. In Europe, we sometimes have disagreements, but we work together,” Petit said, underscoring the EU’s commitment to open dialogue. He expressed surprise at the decision, stating, “For me, it’s surprising that as a parliamentarian, a member of parliament tells me that I won’t meet you because you don’t agree with me. To me, it is a complete rejection of what democracy stands for.”

Petit further highlighted the EU’s foundational role in fostering dialogue across differing perspectives, noting, “The only place where there is no conflict is the graveyard. I’m in no hurry to get there.”