Mikheil Saakashvili: Party ban opens up new opportunity for popular movement

“We must stop lamenting over ‘what Bidzina is doing to us.’ There is a way out of every situation — you mow the grass, and new grass grows,” former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili wrote, commenting on the ongoing proceedings at the Constitutional Court concerning the possible banning of political parties.

Saakashvili said the struggle was not about political parties or electoral numbers, but about building a broad popular movement. He added that he saw the potential ban as creating new opportunities.

“The representatives of the opposition parties who spoke in Batumi did very well. Zaza Bibichashvili was simply outstanding.

Of course, banning political parties will further isolate Georgia and trigger another wave of emigration. However, in my opinion, we must stop lamenting over ‘what Bidzina is doing to us.’ There is a way out of every situation — you mow the grass, and new grass grows!

Our struggle is not about parties or numbers; it is about a broad popular movement. No registration or ownership of certain documents is needed for that. On the contrary, I see a new opportunity opening up as a result of this ban.

And it is now up to us, the people as a whole, to decide how we use it,” Saakashvili wrote.

The Constitutional Court began hearing Georgian Dream’s constitutional lawsuit on October 21. The claim seeks to have the activities of five political parties declared unconstitutional and banned: the United National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, the Federalists, and Gakharia for Georgia. The parties completed their presentations on October 30, and the court is moving on to the questioning stage. Hearings will resume on November 9.