The opposition is being told what to do from outside and cannot make decisions independently, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze stated in response to a journalist’s question about the European Parliament’s call for the Georgian opposition to participate in local self-government elections.

According to Kobakhidze, despite their current loud rhetoric and criticism of other opposition parties over election participation, parties like the United National Movement and Akhali may reverse their stance if they receive external instructions, which he said would be “extremely humiliating.”

“This call is telling in itself—once again, the opposition is being dictated to from outside. They’re unable to act independently. Despite the aggressive statements from the National Movement and Akhali, I believe they may end up participating in the elections after all. Today, they’re attacking other opposition parties for planning to run, but if they receive the order from abroad, they’ll change their stance. This would be deeply humiliating for them—after mocking others, they’ll have to join the race themselves. Still, I believe they’ll accept even that humiliation, as they have many times before,” Kobakhidze said.