**Georgian Parliament Revokes Opposition MPs’ Mandates**
On February 5, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) parliament voted to terminate the mandates of 49 opposition MPs from three political alliances. The move comes after a disputed election in October, which many opposition leaders claim was rigged.
**Opposition Leaders Speak Out**
The GD parliament revoked the mandates of MPs from the Coalition for Change, Unity-UNM, and Strong Georgia parties. Opposition leaders have warned that this move could lead to a new wave of repression by the GD government. Irakli Kupradze, leader of Strong Georgia, said that the Kremlin is pushing Georgian Dream to neutralize opposition politicians.
**Opposition Resolves to Fight On**
Despite losing their mandates, the opposition has vowed to continue fighting against the GD government. Khatia Dekanoidze of the United National Movement said that their main objective is to ensure the downfall of the regime. Other opposition leaders have also spoken out, emphasizing their resolve to resist pressure from the ruling party.
**GD Justifies Move**
The GD parliament justified its decision by saying that the opposition MPs had used their mandates as a “tool for political sabotage”. Mamuka Mdinaradze, the parliamentary majority leader, claimed that the opposition wants to enter parliament but is not free to do so. He warned that if the precedent of revoking opposition mandates is allowed again, it could lead to further instability.
**Three GD MPs Leave Party**
After the vote, three MPs from the GD party announced that they were leaving the party to form a new opposition group called European Socialists. They said that their aim was to challenge the influence of Unity-UNM and help form a healthy opposition in the country.
The move comes as no surprise, given similar incidents in the past where opposition groups have staged departures from the GD party. Despite these developments, it remains to be seen how this will affect the political landscape in Georgia.
