“It’s the right initiative regarding the debates, delayed, but better late than never. We are looking forward to holding debates over acute issues – economy, foreign policy,” said Aleksandre Rakviashvili, a member of the Girchi party.

Rakviashvili hopes that debates will be diverse with the participation of different parties in a format where viewpoints are clearly presented for voters to judge differences.

“We always stated that debates are essential and were willing to participate even when we disliked the format or other circumstances. We participated because a normal political process is impossible without debates,” he said.

According to the Girchi member, putting forth certain preconditions for debate is an attempt to evade responsibility or refuse to “hold a discussion that you don’t want to take place.”

“It is significant for discussion to commence. Who is right and who is wrong will be revealed afterwards. However, I wonder how these debates will be held since many politicians have even lost their ability to debate. It’s been so long since we’ve had debates in the country,” Akelsandre Rakviashvili stated.

On January 22, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that restoring debate is essential for Georgian democracy. However, he stated that informal forces must not dictate the agenda.

“Debate—the discussion and examination of ideas—is one of the main pillars of democracy. It allows society to hear diverse perspectives, analyze differing opinions, and make informed choices in favour of the positions it considers most justified,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze wrote on social networks.