“Salome Zourabichvili failed as an opposition leader; this is a fact. Zourabichvili could not unite the opposition, including around herself,” one of the leaders of Unity – National Movement, Ana Tsitlidze, stated on the 360 Degrees program on Palitranews.

According to her, when the UNM attended meetings with Salome Zourabichvili alongside other opposition parties, they had no expectation that the former president Zourabichvili would “accomplish anything.”

As Tsitlidze explained, despite expectations and attitudes, the United National Movement did everything for unity.

“We did everything for unity. Not because we thought Salome Zourabichvili was a queen capable of everything, nor because we forgot the statements she made from her past life or many of her actions – no! The UNM believed that despite differences, despite our attitude toward Salome Zourabichvili, despite her unfair position toward Mikheil Saakashvili, we did everything for unity so that the process would be more fruitful.

Despite personal attacks, insults, including during internal meetings, we endured a great deal because we believed and believe that a united front is what will defeat this regime.

Salome Zourabichvili failed as an opposition leader; this is a fact. Zourabichvili could not unite the opposition, including around herself.

When we went to meetings with Zourabichvili and participated there, we had no expectations even then. I had no expectations whatsoever, nor did the UNM, but society needed to see for itself. I remember when Salome came to rallies, they would call out ‘Your Majesty,’ thinking Salome Zourabichvili would accomplish something. Even then, when they called ‘Your Majesty,’ I had no expectation that she would accomplish anything,” Tsitlidze declared.

Additionally, Tsitlidze spoke about local self-government elections and noted that any political force that participates in the October 4 elections would be committing an act equivalent to betrayal.

Furthermore, in her opinion, the party that participates in local self-government elections will damage itself, and it will also be good for lustration, because it will become clear once and for all in the opposition field who the real opposition is.

“Regarding local self-government elections, there should be more clarity in the opposition. Everyone who considers participating in the race, I believe, given what we have, would be equivalent to betrayal toward all those people who stand in the streets and fight, toward all political prisoners who sit in prison.

One must be principled in this struggle. Whoever thinks they will participate in local self-government elections will damage themselves and will pay the price with voters. In reality, this is good for lustration, so that it becomes clear once and for all in the opposition field who the real opposition is,” Tsitlidze declared.