MADRID 18 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobajidze, reported this Monday that next week he will present the composition of his new Government, which will have to undergo an investiture session in Parliament, despite the protests that have been taking place in the country. since the elections were held last October.
Kobajidze, who has urged all Ministries to draw up their “latest recommendations” for the configuration of a new Government program, has indicated that the agenda of the next Executive will also be presented next Monday.
“We have an ambitious task, which must be reflected in the program. Over the next four years, we must take the country to a completely different level of development, and our program must guarantee this. Now, the priority is to work daily to ensure that all these tasks are fulfilled,” he stated during a meeting with the current Cabinet.
Thus, he has indicated that his Government “continues to work for the country” despite the fact that thousands of people have taken to the streets since the end of October to demand a repeat of the elections and accuse the authorities of engaging in illegalities and electoral fraud.
However, the president has expressed his confidence that the opposition parties, which continue to “boycott the results”, accusing the Government of taking the country away from the path to European integration. “We trust that they will end up giving in and sitting in Parliament,” he said.
On Sunday, opposition groups once again called for a new day of protests in Tbilisi, the capital, to protest against the election results, which endorsed a new victory for the government Georgian Dream party, which they accuse of having a pro-Russian stance.
These demonstrations are expected to continue throughout this Monday and they have assured that it will be one of the largest days of protests in recent years, as tension continues to increase in the country, according to information from the Agenda news portal.
Protesters blocked several of the capital’s main avenues throughout Sunday, where they have set up barricades with chairs and garbage containers. For the prime minister, however, these actions “will not bear fruit” and he regretted that the opponents find themselves in “such a difficult situation.”
What are the implications of the opposition’s boycott on Georgia’s democratic processes?
EGIN: Good day, I am the editor of World Today News. With us today, we have two esteemed guests to discuss the latest political developments in Georgia. We have Mr. Simba, a political analyst from Tbilisi, and Ms. Alex, a foreign policy expert from the EU. Welcome to the interview.
EDITOR: Mr. Simba, as a political analyst in Georgia, what is your take on the current political situation in the country? The Prime Minister has announced the composition of his new government despite ongoing protests from the opposition parties. How do you think the public is receiving this news?
SIMBA: Well, World Today News, the public sentiment is quite divided. The Prime Minister’s Georgian Dream party has a strong support base, particularly in rural areas, but there is significant discontent among the urban youth and pro-European forces who believe that the recent elections were marred by fraud and irregularities. The ongoing protests are a manifestation of this dissatisfaction.
EDITOR: Ms. Alex, as an EU expert, how does the bloc view the developments in Georgia? Does the boycott of the election results by opposition parties affect their relations with the European Union?
ALEX: The situation in Georgia is certainly being monitored closely by the EU. The boycott of the election results by the opposition parties is a cause for concern as it hampers the country’s democratic progress. However, we appreciate the fact that Prime Minister Kobajidze has committed to presenting a new government program that prioritizes the country’s development and European integration. It remains to be seen how the opposition will respond to this overture.
EDITOR: What challenges do you see ahead for the newly formed government, Mr. Simba? The Prime Minister has indicated that they will have to navigate through the ongoing protests and deliver on his ambitious development agenda.
SIMBA: There are several challenges ahead for the new government, not least of which is bridging the trust deficit with the opposition parties. Additionally, they will need to address economic issues such as high unemployment and socio-economic inequality that have fueled discontent among the youth. Internationally, they will need to continue to pursue closer ties with the EU while maintaining a delicate balance
