Former Members of UNM Establish New Political Party

TBILISI – Former members of the opposition party United National Movement (UNM), who left the party on January 12th, held a presentation for their new political party, Movement for Freedom-European Georgia, on Monday.

The party consists of 21 MPs and 27 members of the UNM political council.

“We are taking one more step on the road, which will lead to the establishment of a new, strong, political center,” Davit Bakradze stated during the presentation.

“Movement for Freedom - European Georgia will be a kind of political force, which will be a real movement and not just a party,” he added.

The party members said at the presentation that Gigi Ugulava will serve as the General Secretary of the party. Other organizational issues will be resolved at the party congress, among them the issue of electing the party’s chair. Presumably, Davit Bakradze will take the post of the Chair.

“Our movement is named as the Movement for Freedom, because for every Georgian, for every Georgian citizen, the word “freedom” has always been the most valuable,” Ugulava stated.

Moreover, Ugulava revealed the intention for the party to become a member of European Peoples Party (EPP). The new Movement members had a meeting with the President of the EPP Joseph Daul last week in Strasburg.

New Movement plans to participate in October 2017 Municipal Elections. 

The party will start holding meetings to present their political plans in the regions from tomorrow.

"The next step is to come to power and solve the problems, which could not be solved by the current government", Giga Bokeria said during the presentation.

The Movement for Liberty - European Georgia has two factions in the Parliament of Georgia - European Georgia and European Georgia for a Better Future, chaired by Sergo Ratiani and Elene Khoshtaria.

By Thea Morrison