Georgian PM says public debate vital for social cohesion

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday said the main purpose of opening discussions on various issues was to ensure the consolidation of society.

In his interview with Rustavi 2 TV channel, Kobakhidze noted that the world was facing very troubling trends, with deepening polarisation visible in many countries, including most European states.

“In various countries, including the majority of European states, it is evident that certain forces are attempting to divide society, and, unfortunately, they are largely succeeding in this. There is a very high degree of polarisation and specific trends of sowing hatred, which we have also clearly observed in our own case, and we want to confront this. The main goal of opening discussions on various topics is to ensure social consolidation. Of course, this does not mean that everyone must share the same opinion”, he said.

The PM emphasised that debates exist precisely to allow people to present differing views, enabling society to form its own attitudes toward specific issues.

Kobakhidze further added that in the absence of space for debate, the distance between opposing sides of society was naturally increasing.

“It is important that continuous discussions take place around these positions so that differing opinions do not take on a negative meaning or become a source of conflict. Our main task is depolarisation - preventing the artificially imposed hatred from taking root in our society. This is a natural objective, and this is exactly what the initiative we have put forward is aimed at”, he concluded.