“It’s inconceivable that people would fight for the mayoralty and have the idea of halting the municipality’s work. I’ve been in politics for so many years, but I’ve never heard such absurdity,” the capital’s incumbent mayor, Kakha Kaladze, told journalists regarding Lelo-Strong Georgia’s deputy mayoral candidate Aleko Elisashvili’s plan.

According to Kakha Kaladze, voters draw conclusions from politicians’ statements, which is why it’s no coincidence that they lack public support and ratings.

“It’s inconceivable that someone would want the mayoralty to halt the municipality’s work. They want to halt the rehabilitation of streets and avenues, stop support for those impoverished and socially vulnerable families and individuals whom the municipality assists through various programmes, they want to halt the construction of parks and the operation of public transport; and it’s truly delightful that over the past eight years we have completely renewed public transport, because those dilapidated yellow buses that served Tbilisi’s population were a great disgrace.

Such statements are inconceivable; they’re so absurd. Someone wanting the mayoralty to halt and ruin everything that has been accomplished and to do nothing in future.

Society draws conclusions from politicians’ statements. Therefore, it is no coincidence that these people have no rating or support whatsoever in society. They are ordinary thugs, and on October 4, voters will give everyone the appropriate answer,” declared Kakha Kaladze.

One of the leaders of Lelo-Strong Georgia, Aleko Elisashvili, declared on TV Pirveli that “if we wake up in Tbilisi where Kupradze is mayor and the opposition has a majority in the council, these people will face despair, Kupradze will come out the next day and say, well then, go organise strikes, fight! Imagine municipal services going on strike”.