Georgia's ruling party refuses to vote for suspension of status for opposition MPs

Georgia's ruling party refuses to vote for suspension of status for opposition MPs

Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party said ‘at this stage’ they will not vote for the suspension of status for 51 opposition MPs per their request. 

The opposition MPs from six of eight opposition parties and election blocs have requested the suspension of their status. 

They say that the October 31 parliamentary elections were fabricated and are demanding repeat elections. Six of 60 opposition MPs have entered parliament so far. 

According to head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze, 20 other opposition MPs also wish to take up their mandates. 

"However, as we know, due to the bullying and blackmail they are unable to take the step. Our refusal to vote for the suspension of MP status for opposition will be another chance for the opposition legislators to enter parliament," Agenda.ge cited him as saying. 

He said that the opposition, with the use of procedural instruments, are trying to sabotage the state legislature. 

"The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has given even more severe assessment to the Georgian opposition’s actions and stated that it is an attempt to undermine democracy," Kobakhidze stated. 

However, he said that Georgia has a well-written constitution which has genuine levers against the procedural instruments which may contradict democracy. 

Kobakhidze said that the Georgian Dream has taken the view of international partners into account when they decided not to vote for the cancellation of the MP status for opposition MPs.

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