Conservative MPs Leave Parliamentary Majority

Conservative MPs Zviad Dzidziguri, Nino Goguadze and Giga Bukia have left the parliamentary majority, and made the respective statement at a briefing today. 

“I, Zviad Dzidziguri, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament and member of the majority, made a decision to resign. For several months we had been convincing the public, all the political players, that we would make a constitutional change. I want to tell those who may say that we are leaving the team when the team needed us: we, Conservatives, have never betrayed the principle of teamwork,” Dzidziguri said.

The decision is related to the fact that yesterday the Parliament of Georgia rejected the bill on constitutional amendments relating to the electoral system in the first reading. 

Giorgi Begadze, the majoritarian MP from Rustavi, is yet another MP who has left the parliamentary majority.

“I was confident that we would be able to deliver on the promise given to society and the international community! Unfortunately, because of my health, I was unable to attend the last sessions and I did not see any particular risk that the issue would not be sufficiently supported. Given the current reality, I had to make a difficult decision. I am leaving the parliamentary majority and therefore the ruling party,” Begadze stated.

Mariam Jashi, a member of the parliamentary majority, has left the Georgian Dream. Her statement to the press is as follows:

“I am leaving the majority of the Georgian Dream and accordingly, I am leaving the post of Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science and Culture. Although the debate over which electoral system is better suited to Georgia may continue indefinitely, it is our duty as the ruling party to comply with the promise we gave our citizens two months ago. I will always remain proud of the initiatives and truly historic changes brought by the current government in Georgia, including the reforms in healthcare, prison and the education system. Nonetheless, my decision is a matter of principle.”

On November 14, other members of the parliamentary majority, Tamar Chugoshvili, Irina Pruidze, Giorgi Mosidze, Dimitri Tskitishvili, Tamar Khulordava, Sophio Katsarava, and Zaza Khutsishvili also left the ruling Georgian Dream for the same reason. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

Related Story: Members of Parliamentary Majority Leave the Ruling Team