Government Responds to United National Movement's Request for Early Elections

| News, Georgia

On September 5, Nika Melia, the leader of Georgia's largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), gave a briefing. He stressed that Georgia should hold early elections to end the current political crisis because the window of opportunity may close soon. The UNM Chairman emphasised that the oligarch's Russian Dream [referring to the Georgian Dream] is doing everything to prevent Georgia from entering the European family and to undermine European ideals. "The administration has disobeyed the people, and it has to be overthrown quickly," he added.

Melia laid out a three-step strategy for conducting early elections and becoming a candidate for the European Union, beginning with the party's plans to coordinate a range of political actions and rallies to call for early elections. Second, the party intends to keep in constant contact with individuals about the need to safeguard European choice and early elections, both in urban and rural settings. The UNM Chairman said that the party would continue to be in intense dialogue with "foreign partners who have recognised that Georgia has chosen a Russian orientation and moved away from the West because of the Russian Dream."

Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of Parliament and a member of the ruling party, said in response to the UNM Chairperson's briefing that despite the opposition's desire, parliamentary elections will take place in 2024. "At this crucial, historic moment, instead of being on the path to minimising radicalization, they are whipping up divisiveness," he stated. According to Speaker Papuashvili, the opposition has not learned from its past mistakes and the fact that the people do not support their demands.

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