For Georgia’s MP Kereselidze: Parliament is legitimate; how else can I put it to you?

MP Shalva Kereselidze, Chairman of the For Georgia parliamentary faction, has affirmed that the 11th convocation of Parliament is legitimate.

According to Kereselidze, the ruling Georgian Dream party seeks to ban the Gakharia For Georgia party simply because it cannot tolerate fair criticism and wishes to prevent the party’s MPs from speaking directly to the public.

“We entered Parliament precisely to engage with the public, to speak to our electorate, and to tell the truth about what is happening in this country, to give voice to their concerns directly inside the plenary chamber. That is exactly what we are doing. Unfortunately, the ruling party resents this. They detest dissenting views, the truth, and constructive criticism, and they are doing everything in their power to obstruct us.

Our deepest confrontation with the ruling party concerns the occupied territories. The occupying regime’s electoral promise is to cede the village of Chorchana back to the occupying regime and unite North and South Ossetia, which would drastically accelerate the annexation process. The government remains silent on all this, offering nothing but a criminal apology in response. We will neither let this pass nor tolerate it. Our active presence does not suit Georgian Dream,” Kereselidze stated.

When asked whether the 11th convocation of Parliament was legitimate, Kereselidze initially countered: “What difference does that make?”

The MP confirmed that his party took a conscious decision to take up their seats in the chamber.

“Whether it is legitimate or not is immaterial. Today, Georgian Dream holds power,” Kereselidze remarked.

Pressed further on whether it mattered to him if he himself was a legitimate MP, Kereselidze maintained that he was indeed legitimate, as the public had entrusted him with a mandate.

“The public granted them a mandate as well,” Kereselidze added.

Finally, when asked outright whether the Georgian Dream MPs and the Parliament as a whole were legitimate, Kereselidze responded: “Of course they are, yes—how else can I put it to you?”