European officials welcome signing of political agreement in Georgia
Danmark welcomes the agreement on ending the political crisis in Georgia. Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod encourages all parties to sign the agreement.
“A positive result of tireless joint efforts by Georgia, the EU, and the US. I encourage all parties to sign the agreement. Implementation will bring Georgia closer to fulfilling its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” Kofod tweeted on Wednesday.
European Parliament member, Rasa Juknevičienė says the agreement of the Georgian ruling party and opposition is a new beginning.
“It means bigger accountability, especially of the ruling party. Also less hatred in politics, transparent elections, freedom of media, and political opposition, which isn’t an enemy but an important element for democracy,” MEP Juknevičienė noted.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva believes the implementation of an agreement would open the door for further progress in the reforms process and the political association and economic integration.
“Strong support for the political agreement in Georgia. Its implementation will open the door for further progress in the reforms process and the political association and economic integration with the EU,” Zaharieva stated.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, as well as opposition parties, including Lelo for Georgia, Citizens, Republicans, Strategy Agmashenebeli, Girchi, and Girchi – More Freedom signed the renewed EU-backed compromise paper.
Several current and former members of the United National Movement and European Georgia have also signed the agreement individually, however, other representatives of both parties as well as the Labour Party rebuff to sign the document yet.
Charles Michel’s new proposal implies 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 Georgian Dream party fails to receive at least 43 % of votes in upcoming municipal elections.
For the record, Georgian opposition parties that won seats in the Georgian Parliament of the 10th Convocation believe the 2020 parliamentary elections were a fraud. They have been demanding repeat parliamentary elections and the release of the United National Movement Chair, Nika Melia, and the co-founder of the TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua.
The second EU-mediated attempt to solve political crises in Georgia failed. EU mediator Christian Danielsson proposed a solution to political actors on March 31.