GD Ex-Member Resigns from Diaspora Committee Chairmanship

A former member of the ruling party Georgian Dream (GD), Zviad Kvachantiradze, who left the party in late February, has resigned from his post on the Diaspora Issues Committee of Parliament.

Kvachantiradze decided to resign after the GD majority voted for his resignation, but could not succeed because of the lack of the quorum.

The replacement of Zviad Kvachantiradze by Beka Odisharia was initiated by the ruling party. Members of the parliamentary majority made the relevant decision at the Georgian Dream office on Monday.

The MP’s dismissal was backed by just 67 MPs, while the quorum was 76. Eight MPs voted against. The majority was going to bring the issue to a repeated vote later on Tuesday but Kvachantiradze stepped down himself.

"When this issue was brought to a vote, I made a statement for the media about my decision to resign. I was going to submit an application on resignation at the bureau session, but they did not invite me”, Kvachantiradze said.

MP Zviad Kvachantiradze decided to quit the GD on February 27, several days after three majority MPs left the ruling party.

“I am joining a small group of friends who made the same decision for many reasons,” the MP said in late February when he quit the GD.

By Thea Morrison