Third president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who currently holds an official post in Ukraine, has urged the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party to sign the new proposal by the EU and enter parliament after UNM leader Nika Melia leaves prison ‘without posting bail and in a dignified manner.’
Saakashvili stated in a video address earlier today that the section of the agreement which stipulates that parliamentary elections should be held in Georgia in 2022 if the ruling Georgian Dream party does not receive at least 43 per cent of votes in this year’s municipal elections, ‘is actually a referendum and the opposition must do its best to win the referendum.’
Saakashvili, who left Georgia back in 2013 and faces several charges in the country, has said he will return to Georgia ahead of municipal elections in the autumn, Agenda.ge reported.
The new proposal by European Council President Charles Michel released on April 18 covers electoral and justice reforms, offers a pardon for all violations and convictions stemming from the 19-21 June 2019 protests and the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections in 2022 if the ruling party fails to receive at least 43 per cent of votes in this year’s municipal elections.
