**Georgia‘s Ruling Party Revokes Mandates of 49 Opposition MPs**
In a move that has sparked further controversy, members of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party have voted to revoke the mandates of 49 opposition parliamentarians. The decision was made on February 5 after the opposition MPs refused to take their seats in protest over the legitimacy of the results of the October parliamentary election.
The disputed election saw the Russian-friendly Georgian Dream party re-elected, but the opposition and international observers raised concerns about its fairness. As a result, mass protests erupted in Tbilisi, and Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, was seen as illegitimate by the opposition after being replaced by anti-Western politician Mikheil Kavelashvili.
**Georgia’s Parliament Now Largely Under One Party**
With 49 opposition MPs having their mandates revoked, the total number of Georgian parliamentarians has now been reduced to 89 out of the original 150 elected. All remaining MPs are affiliated with the ruling Georgian Dream party, further consolidating its power in Georgia.
Meanwhile, 12 opposition MPs from the “For Georgia” party have refused to attend parliamentary sessions, adding to the tensions between the government and opposition.
**Western Concerns Over Democratic Backsliding**
Georgia’s democratic backsliding has drawn criticism from Western countries. The European Union suspended parts of its visa facilitation agreement with Georgia in January, and a number of sanctions have been imposed on the country over perceived democratic erosion.
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