Kobakhidze: Having received state funding, the opposition recognised the election results

Opposition parties acknowledged the results of the 26 October parliamentary elections when they decided not to refuse state funding. This was stated by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in an interview with Imedi.

‘They did not refuse funding. Three political parties: the National Movement, Lelo and the Gakharia Party recognised the results of the elections by doing so. There will be such steps in the future. The point is that they may overtake us in the parliament,’ Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister believes that the actions of the opposition prove the lack of popular support.

‘It can be seen that these days an average of up to 1,000 people gather on Rustaveli Avenue. Consequently, they have no resources to achieve anything and in the end they will have to recognise the elections,’ he said.

All parties that received at least 1 per cent of the vote in the election were eligible for funding.

The four opposition parties that broke the 5% threshold would not recognise the election results. However, only the Coalition for Change refused budget funding. In the opposition camp, the issue caused disputes that turned into mutual accusations.

According to the CEC, the United National Movement party will receive 1,556,070 GEL annually from the state budget, Lelo for Georgia 1,414,590 GEL, and Gakharia for Georgia 1,307,590 GEL.

According to the CEC results, Georgian Dream won the elections with 53.93 per cent of votes, winning 89 mandates out of 150 in the legislature. Apart from GM representatives, no one else sits in the parliament of the new convocation.

Opposition parties consider the results rigged. Opposition leaders started protest actions. Since 28 November, rallies demanding new parliamentary elections have become mass - without the participation of politicians, citizens took to the streets after the authorities announced the suspension of negotiations on EU membership.

Reprinted from https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/