Ruling Party Sec Gen slams European bureaucrats: Georgian Dream’s patriotic Gov't “unacceptable” to them

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday criticised European bureaucrats, stating that they find it unacceptable that Georgia is currently governed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which he described as a patriotic administration that “does not follow the nonsense it is ordered to”.

In his remarks, Kaladze defended the Government’s actions, arguing that the Georgian Dream was protecting national interests and fulfilling obligations under the Association Agreement, despite accusations of adopting “non-European” laws.

“We do not insult anyone, we do not attack anyone, we protect our own country, our people, and our national interests. The Parliament elected by the people passed a law, which it has every right to do. And we are told that this is a non-European law”, the ruling party official said.

He further noted that European officials had failed to provide specific arguments as to why recent laws in Georgia would be anti-European or anti-democratic, calling their claims speculative and baseless.

“I ask a simple question: why is it non-European? Show us arguments, maybe we are wrong. If you convince us that it is anti-European and anti-democratic, that’s fine. But how can transparency be anti-European or anti-democratic? They have not presented anything so far. The only answer has been “because”, and you cannot make decisions based on that kind of response. The Prime Minister has repeatedly said - talk to us, explain to us, give us arguments - but we know very well that no arguments exist. If you look at the steps outlined in the Association Agreement for our country, everything is being implemented. But when the political component comes in, speculation immediately starts. Immediately statements are made filled with lies and without arguments. This is today’s reality, and the majority of people see it”, he noted.

The official emphasised that nothing was more important than Georgia’s independence and sovereignty, values for which previous generations shed blood.

“Why did we leave the Soviet Union? Because we wanted to be independent and free. Our previous generations fought for this, blood was shed. There is no greater happiness than being independent, sovereign, and free. When the European Union was created, it was interesting - nothing better had been created, with its worldview, its substance, and the values it was based on. It was interesting because every country in it had its own culture, traditions, vision - there was diversity. Today they come out and tell us: what is allowed for me is not allowed for you. This double standard and attitude is not right”, he said.

Kaladze also stressed that while the European Union was once admired for its diversity and values, today’s European bureaucracy has deviated from these principles.
“A political narrative is being pushed - it is unacceptable for them that today the Georgian Dream is in power, because it is a patriotic Government and does not take into account the nonsense they command - like opening a second front, joining sanctions, or what was written in their resolution. This is the problem”, he concluded.