“Society has witnessed on more than one occasion that the opposition attaches no real value to democracy with or without Hungary as their new inspiration,” said MP Levan Makhashvili, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia’s European Integration Committee.

The MP added that opposition representatives have had no shortage of opportunities to demonstrate their political maturity and political culture through the electoral process.

“They refused to take part in elections, refused to honour the will of their own voters and supporters. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. If they seek guidance from Hungary or any other country, they should begin with the most fundamental principles: honest elections, the true representation of those elections, and genuine respect for their own supporters. The finest lesson Hungary offers is that both the winner and the loser respect the outcome of the vote. Let them begin there, before venturing into deeper waters. Whether they like it or not, everyone must respect the result of an election,” Makhashvili stated.

The Chairman of the European Integration Committee went on to say that the opposition falls short in many respects and that its positions hold diminishing interest.

“They have long since departed from democratic frameworks and processes. In reality, what they are interested in is seizing power by whatever means available. That serves neither the interests of the state nor those of its people. As for faith, surely a person’s belief in God must find some expression in deed. I have no wish to conflate religion with politics, but if they are keen to engage on that ground, let them do so honestly. In which piece of legislation have they ever participated that had any bearing on traditional values, including decisions of significance to the Church? Has anyone ever heard them voice support for such matters in the legislative arena or in public life? On the contrary, they cheer each other on when icons are vandalised with paint, they call the highest-ranking clergy Kremlin agents, and they flatly brand the Georgian Orthodox Church a Kremlin extension. What faith are we talking about? If they wish to speak of faith, let them express it through concrete action,” Makhashvili said.

For context, Tina Bokuchava, Chair of the United National Movement, has stated: “Unfortunately, we also have a problem with our collective message; we make no effort to show citizens that we are not godless unbelievers, and we make no effort to enter that arena.”