Veteran Georgian Politician Alasania Resigns

TBILISI - The leader of Georgia’s opposition Free Democrats party Irakli Alasania announced today that he plans to temporarily leave politics after his party’s poor showing in Saturday’s parliamentary elections.

While addressing the media at a press conference on Monday afternoon, Alasania said he would withdraw his majoritarian candidacy in the central Georgian city Gori, where he received 19.38 per cent of the vote and allowing him to qualify for the second round of elections later this month.

Alasania thanked all his supporters while saying his decision was based on the Free Democrats inability to cross the 5 per cent threshold needed to enter into the next parliament.

“At this time, I do not see a way forward where my team and I will be able to influence the current political processes in the country," he said.

The Free Democrats will continue their political activities and will prepare better for the following local or parliamentary elections.

“I am going to do interesting work that will help me to do more for Georgia and for the people who voted for me,” said Alasania and promised he would always stand by his country and people.

Alasania is a former soldier and prominent diplomat, who founded the Free Democrats in 2009. 

In early 2012, his party joined Georgian Dream Coalition and served as Defense Minister until 2014. He and his party later broke with the Georgian Dream and moved into the opposition camp.

Alasania’s fellow party member Alexey Petriashvili also said he was leaving politics after the Free Democrats’ dismal showing in the polls.

By Thea Morrison

Edited by Nicholas Waller