**Opposition Party Expels Member for Breaking Boycott**
Saba Buadze, a leader of the party “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” has announced that they are ending their cooperation with Mikheil Kakauridze and expelling him from the party. This decision was made after Kakauridze attended a session in the Tbilisi City Council where Zurab Abashidze was elected as the new chairperson.
According to Buadze, Kakauridze broke the boycott that the opposition parties had implemented since the disputed elections on October 26, 2024. The boycott was meant to protest against what they considered election fraud and manipulation by the ruling party “Georgian Dream.” Despite this, Kakauridze participated in the session and helped create a quorum for the pro-government party.
As a result of his actions, Buadze has deemed it necessary to end the cooperation between Kakauridze and the party. “Mikheil Kakauridze broke the boycott and helped ‘Georgian Dream’ create a quorum,” Buadze wrote on social media. “I have decided that he should be expelled from our ranks.”
The election of Zurab Abashidze as chairperson was a significant development in the Tbilisi City Council, with 26 council members voting in his favor. This new appointment comes after Giorgi Tkemaladze took up the post of Tbilisi Deputy Mayor, leaving the chairperson’s position vacant.
**Analysis:**
The decision to expel Mikheil Kakauridze from the party reflects the strong stance taken by opposition parties against what they see as government manipulation and control. By breaking the boycott and participating in a session dominated by “Georgian Dream,” Kakauridze has put himself at odds with his own party.
This move could potentially further divide the opposition ranks, as some members may support Kakauridze’s decision to participate in the council sessions while others will continue to uphold the boycott. The consequences of this internal conflict within the opposition parties remain to be seen.
As the situation develops, it is clear that the power struggle between the government and opposition continues to unfold in Tbilisi City Council. The expelling of Kakauridze from “Lelo – Strong Georgia” may mark a significant turning point in this ongoing saga.
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