Georgian Parliament Speaker hails 10th parliament as 'turning point' in nation’s history

The Speaker of Georgia's Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, on Wednesday described the 10th convocation of the Georgian Parliament as a "turning point" in the country's recent history, highlighting the challenges and achievements of the legislative body over the past four years.

Speaking during the presentation of the annual report on the Parliament's activities for 2024, Papuashvili emphasized the “resilience and determination” of both the Parliament and the Georgian people amid a period “marked by political turbulence, external pressures, and internal divisions.”

“The tenth convocation of the Parliament truly became a turning point in recent Georgian history, as it represented a firm and courageous assembly for strengthening sovereignty and protecting national interests,” Papuashvili claimed. He praised current and former members of the Parliament for their contributions, expressing pride in their efforts to defend and advance Georgia.

Papuashvili recounted the difficulties faced by the 10th Parliament, including alleged foreign interference, internal disruptions, and attempts to destabilize the nation. He asserted that the challenges had ultimately strengthened Georgian society, which emerged “more trained, confident, and wiser.”

According to the Speaker, the report provided an opportunity for lawmakers and the public to review the Parliament's legislative and supervisory activities, offering insights into its achievements in the face of adversity.

“The four years passed by the tenth convocation of the Parliament were filled with contradictions, foreign influences, and interference in internal affairs, the shaking of the foundations of the state by destructive groups, the opening of a political front by interest groups, betrayal, sabotage, and traps laid by enemies or friends,” Papuashvili noted. “However, most of all, it was in these difficult times that the loyalty, wisdom, and trust of the Georgian people were revealed”, he asserted.