Tengo Tevzadze: UNM stands outside Opposition Alliance; whoever becomes party chair must decide whether to co-operate

“For now, the United National Movement stands outside the Opposition Alliance. Whoever assumes the party chairmanship must decide for themselves whether they wish to remain in the Alliance and continue working alongside its constituent parties,” stated Tengo Tevzadze, a member of the Opposition Alliance.

According to Tevzadze, such internal matters are not discussed within the Alliance’s framework.

“The Alliance is a broad coalition of multiple parties, so the United National Movement must make its own decision. Whoever they select as their candidate for Prime Minister, President, or Parliamentary Speaker is entirely their choice; they will figure it out for themselves. Upon the holding of fair elections, the Coalition for Change will designate its nominee for Prime Minister and other key political appointments in line with a coalition agreement. Discussing this now is premature; our immediate priority is securing fair elections. Such issues are not deliberated within the Alliance, nor is it for the Alliance to decide whom an individual party fields as its candidate for Prime Minister,” Tevzadze noted.

When asked whether co-operation with the United National Movement held value for the Alliance, Tevzadze stated:

“Co-operation in the format we recently experienced with the UNM is unacceptable, and active collaboration with them is not currently underway. The UNM stands outside the Alliance and has not been involved in its operations. As for whether we desire coordinated action—yes, we do. The Ahali party is one of the primary drivers and major contributors to this process alongside other parties. Provided they abide by the rules, we will co-operate with all political forces,” Tevzadze said.

Furthermore, when asked whether Mikheil Saakashvili’s potential candidacy for Prime Minister was acceptable, Tevzadze reiterated that it was not up to the Opposition Alliance to pass judgment on UNM’s internal party nominations.

“How can we comment on whether another party’s candidate for Prime Minister is acceptable when the matter has not been agreed upon? If you want to hear from me whether Saakashvili is acceptable, it is simply not our place to decide whom the United National Movement nominates as its party’s prime ministerial candidate. We will put forward our own candidate once fair and free elections take place. These are UNM’s internal affairs. We have not discussed this within the Alliance, nor was the Alliance formed to agree on a prime ministerial candidate. The Alliance was established to fulfil two core demands: to secure fair elections and to achieve the release of political prisoners,” Tevzadze stated.

Nanuka Zhorzholiani stated on a TV Pirveli broadcast: “If Misha says he is re-entering politics, becoming the United National Movement’s primary political figure and candidate for Prime Minister, that will simplify the rules of the game”.