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. Last week, the Parliament confirmed Giorgi Gakharia as Prime Minister and approved his proposed cabinet.
“I am proud of the Georgian people for demonstrating their courage to carry on during the Covid-19 pandemic while also assuming their civic duty to vote in record numbers during the election,” said Gakharia. “We have much to do to fight the pandemic, get our people vaccinated, and get our country back on track to prosperity. I look forward to working with the Parliament and all responsible political actors to get the country moving again.”
The new government largely retains the ministers that have worked effectively during the COVID-19 crisis, supported the historic constitutional electoral reform, and advanced relations with the United States and other international allies. The new cabinet took office immediately following the vote.
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 this will serve to prepare Georgia to apply for full membership in the EU in 2024.
Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani underlined, that the Government of Georgia will continue the close cooperation with the new administration of the United States, to further reinforce the achievements in all directions of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership and strengthen the U.S. involvement in the defense and security, as well as economic development processes in Georgia.
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 and reflecting the will of the voters. 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.’