UNM’s Levan Sanikidze: I am stepping back from daily party management; transition period offers crucial space for self-reflection

“At our last congress, we announced a six-month transition period. I believe these six months will be fully utilised to prepare the party for fundamental changes,” United National Movement (UNM) member Levan Sanikidze stated during an appearance on TV Formula.

Sanikidze noted that he is less involved in the day-to-day management of the party, as things stand.

“In this regard, compared to the previous period, I am currently less involved in the daily management of the party as things stand. However, I naturally stay actively informed on major developments and retain my vote in significant overarching decisions that will be tied to implementing reform,” Levan Sanikidze stated.

When asked why he had stepped back from daily operations, Sanikidze clarified that it was “by no means a detachment from the broader process.”

“Simply put, I believe the duties entrusted to me as First Deputy Chairman over the past eighteen months were exceptionally demanding in this respect. I feel the board currently overseeing the party’s daily management will execute this work with far greater agility. Taking a temporary pause from daily management was also important for me personally, allowing me to view things with a bit of distance.

The transition period has certainly been valuable for self-reflection, for me at least. The way I see it, this is a time for reflection, and on some level, one must take responsibility. I believe one of the primary afflictions of Georgian politics is the refusal to accept responsibility. When a transition period becomes necessary, it means something was clearly not working correctly,” Levan Sanikidze concluded.