Former PM Gakharia: ‘I’m staying in politics’

Former PM Gakharia: ‘I’m staying in politics’

Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has stated that he has ‘no plans to leave the country or politics.’

He told journalists earlier today that he will announce his intentions in the coming days.

Gakharia resigned on February 18, 2021, saying that the step was connected with the upcoming arrest of the opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia.

Gakharia’s farewell photo has grabbed public attention.

Gakharia said that Melia, who refused to post bail, should be arrested according to the law. However, he stated that amid the political tension the arrest would spark further complications.

Melia was arrested on February 23, shortly after the parliament approved Irakli Garibashvili as the country’s new PM.

The opposition parties which have been demanding repeat parliamentary elections since the October 31 race took to the street again following Melia’s arrest.

The recent EU-mediated talks to help the parties come to an agreement on the issues of repeat elections and the release of Melia ended without result.

The opposition has plans to take to the street again.

Gakharia was appointed PM in September 2019 and was reapproved to the post by the parliament in December 2020, after the elections.

In previous years he was the country’s interior minister and business ombudsman.

In Quotes: GD, Opposition React to Former PM Gakharia Remaining in Politics

Former Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned on March 18 citing disagreement with his Georgian Dream party colleagues over the detention of United National Movement Chairperson Nika Melia, today revealed his intention to remain in politics.

Below is a compilation of some of the remarks made by politicians from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition in response to Gakharia’s announcement.

Ruling Party Reactions

Giorgi (Gia) Volski, First Vice-Speaker of the Parliament: “I have not heard of anyone wanting to leave the Georgian Dream to move to a new political group [under Gakharia]. However, the path is open now if anyone decides so, or even if he [Gakharia] decides that he wants to be active in politics. He has not stated anything about establishing a new team, and once again, I do not want to appear to you as his advocate. Time will come and he [Gakharia] will speak [about it] himself.”

Irakli Zarkua, MP: “…Everyone has the right to establish a party, if they consider it necessary, and to continue political activities. On the contrary, I personally welcome there being more parties in Georgia that will safeguard Georgian interests as much as possible. We, the ruling party, will not have to struggle only with the bankrupt [United] National Movement [as a result].”

Opposition Reactions

Khatia Dekanoidze, the United National Movement: “In case Gakharia remains in politics and decides to establish some political force, we all remember that he is the main author of June 20 [protest dispersal], the main author of the mutilation of people, during and after which no law enforcement agencies were punished. We must also not forget that he is quite well-connected, including with Russia. However, at the same time, if he establishes some sort of political movement, this will, first of all, hurt the Georgian Dream. This is the usual process of collapse [of the GD].”

Pikria Chikhradze, Lelo for Georgia: “I do not think he will be a figure independent from the Georgian Dream. I think he will be more of a lifeline to the disappointed Georgian Dream voters, because they see a political force in grave condition, and want to find someone new to lean on. It is possible that they [GD voters] want to give this support role to Gakharia…”

Aleko Elisashvili, Citizens MP: “As far as I know, Gakharia is thinking of establishing a party. He is conducting certain consultations … Georgian political life will become more interesting after Gakharia’s move to the opposition, and if we witness him as the leader of an opposition party. He was a serious figure. Time will show us if he is capable of being a serious figure in the opposition as well.”

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)

Former Prime Minister Gakharia ‘Not Quitting Politics’

“I do not plan to go away. More so, I am not quitting politics,” former Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia told media today.

“We are following our agenda, which will give us the opportunity to reveal everything to you in detail in the nearest future. This is what I wanted to say today, and we will meet again soon,” he added.

Gakharia resigned on March 18 citing disagreement with his Georgian Dream party colleagues over the detention of Nika Melia, leader of the United National Movement. The ex-Prime Minister’s possible return to politics has been widely discussed since his resignation.

According to the IRI poll from August 2020, Gakharia was the most favored politician in the wake of the first COVID wave, with his favorability rating standing at 63%. In the same poll, GD’s Kakha Kaladze’s favorability was at 57%, and Bidzina Ivanishvili’s at 41%.

Noteworthy, that the NDI’s public opinion poll showed Gakharia’s approval significantly improve throughout his PM tenure, with his performance being regarded as “good” by 46% in December 2020 (up from 21% in November 2019) and as “bad” by only 17% (down from 35% in November 2019).

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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)