Georgian Parliament official highlights peace, stability as top priorities - Georgian Dream “measures every step”

Peace and stability are the most important priorities today, and every step taken by the ruling party is carefully measured to minimise security risks, said on Wednesday Levan Machavariani, the first deputy chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Machavariani noted that the Hungarian people made their choice and expressed his respect for the outcome of the elections.

“We, of course, welcome the choice of the Hungarian people”, he said.

Machavariani voiced hope that the existing relations between Georgia and Hungary would continue under the new government.

“We hope that this relationship will continue under the new leadership. It was also encouraging to hear the messages delivered during the first press conference, where the new leadership emphasised that the relations established during Mr. Orban’s tenure will certainly continue. We will wait and hope that cooperation remains at the same level”, he noted.

Responding to a question about the domestic opposition’s expectations following the Hungarian elections, Machavariani said the opposition is in a “difficult condition”, describing it as marginalised and lacking public trust.

The official further added that the majority of Georgian citizens recognised that the radical opposition, including what he referred to as the collective United National Movement, was externally influenced.

“They spend time with their external patrons during the election process instead of engaging with the population. They have even appealed for sanctions against Georgia. For the sake of coming to power, they would prefer the country to be bombed, sanctioned, and its economy destroyed”, he claimed.

Machavariani emphasised that such forces had no chance of gaining power, as Georgians did not want a government controlled from abroad.

“Peace and stability are the most important priorities today. The reason we speak about this with such confidence is that Georgian Dream, under the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili, governs the country. Everyone understands that every step and every statement is carefully calculated to ensure that security risks in Georgia do not increase even slightly. Everything is being safeguarded”, he said.

The official stressed that replacing the current government was “out of the question”, but expressed confidence that, in the future, a new generation of leaders would emerge - patriotic, sovereignty-oriented, and free from external influence.

“We will gladly hand over power to such leaders and move into the opposition”, Machavariani concluded.