The dominant Georgian political group issues warning of potentially prohibiting their opposition counterpart.
The authoritarian ruling in Georgia is considering outlawing its main opposition party, the United National Movement, following the October parliamentary elections. According to Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, declaring UNM unconstitutional is crucial for establishing a genuine democratic framework in the country. This move, Garibashvili added, would necessitate Georgian Dream securing a constitutional majority during the October 26 vote, as reported in the media.
The United National Movement is the party backed by former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who's currently under detention by the current Georgian leadership. Recent polls suggest that Georgian Dream is hovering around 60%. Despite missing out on a two-thirds majority in the 2020 parliamentary elections, the party managed to squeak by.
Defying significant protests, the party recently enacted a law which mirrors Russia's regulations. This legislation is intended to combat supposed foreign interference in civic institutions. The European Union, which had designated Georgia as a membership prospect at the end of 2023, has placed the membership process on hold due to this new law.
The opposition party, the United National Movement, strongly opposes the government's decision to outlaw it, arguing that it undermines democratic principles. This move by the Georgian Dream party, if successful, could potentially strain relations with the European Union further, given the EU's support for democratic processes.
