After a strong and decisive electoral showing in the most inclusive election in Georgian history, the winning Georgian Dream party has seated 90 members in the newly-convened Parliament led by Archil Talakvadze and chosen Giorgi Gakharia to once again lead the government as Prime Minister.
Gakharia, in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia, presented the governmental program “Building a European State” to the Parliament. He emphasized that the main goals of the government are to overcome the pandemic, ensure rapid economic recovery, create a stable and secure environment for every citizen, and continue structural reforms. All of these will serve to prepare Georgia to apply for full membership in the EU in 2024.
The structure of the cabinet remains largely the same except that Gocha Lortkipanidze will serve as Justice Minister. The Vice Prime Minister are (insert names).
Members of the opposition continue their boycott of Parliament, while international partners have implored them to work constructively in Parliament and drop their call for “re-doing” the election after all international parties and observers declared the election free and fair. The international diplomatic community has played an invaluable role trying to engage with certain increasingly strident opposition leaders who have impugned EU and US diplomats.
US Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, rebuffed the opposition’s baseless accusations about the state of US-Georgia relationship by noting that, “The fact is that Georgia does not have a better friend than America.” EU ambassador Carl Hartzell told reporters, “The clock is ticking and doors are starting to close and everyone has to realize that,” on the talks between the opposition and the government.
The unwarranted attacks on Georgian allies led Grigol Vashadze to leave his leadership post of the main opposition party “United National Movement.” Vashadze stated he left the party due to the presence of ‘odious figures’ in the party and attacks on the diplomatic corps and ‘other controversies.’