**Georgian Dream Seeks to Eliminate Opposition Ahead of Municipal Elections**
The Georgian Dream party has taken a drastic step by voting unanimously to revoke the mandates of all 12 members of the opposition party, For Georgia. This move comes as a shock to many, and is seen by some as an attempt to silence the opposition ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
**Removing Mandates: A Tactic Used Before**
In a post on social media platform X, Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the For Georgia party, accused Georgian Dream of using this tactic to eliminate political opponents. “Stripping our mandates was never about procedure,” he wrote. “It was about clearing the way for politically motivated prosecutions, revoking immunity ahead of fabricated charges, and eliminating a major political threat before the municipal elections.” Gakharia’s statement suggests that Georgian Dream is using these tactics to suppress opposition and maintain its grip on power.
**A Familiar Pattern: Removing Immunity and Fabricating Charges**
Gakharia’s comments also highlighted a pattern seen in other countries where opposition is suppressed. “We’ve seen this before,” he said. “A page torn from the Kremlin’s playbook: remove immunity, invent criminal charges, and eliminate political alternatives.” This suggests that Georgian Dream may be following a similar playbook, using these tactics to silence opponents and maintain its power.
**What’s Next?**
The termination of the For Georgia party members’ mandates has sparked concerns about the future of democracy in Georgia. The opposition has accused Georgian Dream of trying to undermine democratic processes and silence opposition voices. As the country heads into municipal elections, it remains to be seen how this move will impact the political landscape.
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