Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that she does not rule out participation in the elections.

Asked in an interview at RFE/RL headquarters in Prague, Zourabichvili said:

“Now I am the President and my mandate ends after the parliamentary elections. The new parliament will elect a new president as per the constitution; this was the last time when the president was elected by the people.

My plan, if you can call it a plan, is to carry out my mandate and fulfill my role. The president must try to reach a consensus in a country that is deeply polarized. Obviously, this is no easy task in an election year. Elections are likely to become the reason for further straining the situation. It is even more important to support the political forces that are trying to implement the EC’s nine recommendations,” she stated.

The president stressed that everything will depend on how Georgia moves forward in fulfilling the EC recommendations.

When asked if she would consider forming a party to promote Georgia’s European integration and running in elections, the president stated, “If Georgia’s European future is at stake, I would consider anything.”

*The quotes in the article have been double-translated from Georgian and certain wordings may be inaccurate.