UNM’s Khabeishvili has “no plans” to run for party chair

Levan Khabeishvili, a member of the United National Movement opposition party, on Thursday said he had “no plans” to run for the party head, following the briefing of several party members over the need of the race on Wednesday and the subsequent response of incumbent chair of the party, Nika Melia, that he was ready for elections. 

“I welcome the initiative of my colleagues over the elections, which is related to more openness, renewal in the party, and the election of the chairman.I welcome that this initiative was accepted by the party head, who said that there will be the race”, Khabeishvili said, in response to media reports that he has plans to take the post. 

The politician also criticized Melia for his wording towards the party members over the “hasty” briefing over the need of the race. 

“It is not right to call your party members  –  partisans, this is a wrong attitude”, he said. 

Melia claimed that he had initiated the elections a month ago and that the four party members, who had held the “sudden” briefing, were “well-aware” of that, and noted that “time will show what was the purpose” of the move. 

The ruling Georgian Dream patty MPs said that the UNM members were fighting with each other after their “failure” to provoke unrest in the country.