Salome Zurabishvili, the Georgian president, claims that Bidzina, the patron of the ruling party, has ties with Moscow or that their relationship has gotten closer.
Zurabishvili stated in an interview with POLITICO that she is “not into conspiracy theories” regarding Ivanishvili‘s plans for Georgia but she also said she did not have a “logical, rational explanation”, for the Georgian Dream‘s deviation away from the European path.
“The entire history of Georgia shows that Russia is the main risk for Georgia.” “The risk of war increases if Georgia is isolated, weak, divided, and alone from its partners,” she said.
Zurabishvili stated that the upcoming election is “existential.” She also stated that even if GD wins, it will be difficult for them to renew any kind of relationship with the Western partners in the country, the EU and U.S.
“I don’t think they are willing to make… serious concessions in order to return to a form of business as normal,” she said, adding that the Foreign Agents Law could be withdrawn. She is also unsure about the kind of politics that the ruling party will pursue: Would it implement its radical pledges, such as banning almost all opposition parties or try to restore relationships with the EU?
Zurabishvili expressed pride in her efforts in uniting the opposition ahead of the October elections. She also addressed the chances of the opposition winning the elections and expressed a willingness to work with them to achieve the goals set forth in the Georgian Charter, should they succeed. The Georgian Charter is a roadmap for bringing Georgia on the EU track. It includes, among other reforms, the creation of a one-year technocratic government, a move that the opposition does not seem to be enthusiastic about.
Zurabishvili stated that “if the pro-European forces, and the parties behind this charter, win the elections, then I will likely be with them, to carry this Charter to the next European Council, and secure the openings of negotiations in whatever position – and that is yet to be defined” Zurabishvili. She said that her biggest regret is “that we didn’t open the first opportunity to negotiate [with the EU].
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The Daily Beat: Saturday, 7 October
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