Ruling party official says “healthy opposition” necessary, “agent network-driven” politics hinders development

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Tuesday emphasised the importance of a “constructive and nationally oriented opposition” in Georgia’s political landscape, arguing that “agent network-driven” politics undermine democracy.

In his remarks, Kirtskhalia noted that the domestic radical opposition tactics, such as election boycotts and inconsistent political strategies, had harmed Georgia’s political development.

“For us, it is always important and it is the foundation of democracy that in a democratic state, in a parliamentary republic, we have a constructive, state-minded, and nationally oriented opposition. Every team needs opposition, but it should be a healthy opposition. We do not need an opposition made up of agents. We have seen well since 2020 how their in-and-out games and boycott tactics have affected the entire opposition spectrum”, the ruling party official said.

He further noted that every democratic system requires an opposition but stressed that it must be “healthy and state-minded”.

“In my personal opinion, the fewer agents there are in the political field, the healthier the country will develop, because rationally thinking political forces will emerge that will provide healthy opposition. We have stated this many times before, and the answer to this question is very simple. When you live in a democracy, it is essential to have a healthy opposition”, Kirtskhalia concluded.