“Salome Zourabichvili has never been a leader for the United National Movement. However, she is our ally because she stands against Bidzina Ivanishvili,” stated Irakli Pavlenishvili, a member of the United National Movement (UNM) party.

Pavlenishvili emphasized that collaboration with the former president is “not a problem.” However, he maintained that Zourabichvili’s role as a leader is “not essential.”

“We do not see cooperation as an issue. That said, it does not imply that someone must be officially recognized as a leader. Salome Zourabichvili has never held that position within the United National Movement, but we regard her as an ally in our shared opposition to Bidzina Ivanishvili.

The real question is whether we agree with her strategy and tactics. Coordination and cooperation do not require us to concede leadership to anyone. Each of us may have differing views, but at crucial junctures, even parties previously at odds can find common ground—especially those who recognize Ivanishvili as a dire threat to Georgian statehood. Political perspectives may vary, but there is unanimous agreement on the urgent need to eliminate this significant danger to our nation,” Pavlenishvili concluded.