Page 7 - GEORptAug21

2.0 Politics
2.1 EC president Michel to start consultations with
Georgian government, opposition
European Council President Charles Michel said on July 29 that consultations were starting with a number of Georgian political actors, after the ruling Georgian Dream party quit the April 19 deal.
Michel noted he has “equally” taken note of the governing party’s withdrawal, and the largest opposition party United National Movement’s (UNM's) refusal to sign the agreement.
Michel said he remained convinced that the agreement, penned as a result of his mediation between Georgian political parties, “is the best way to advance a reform agenda which would strengthen the democratic institutions of Georgia and help bring about prosperity, jobs, and growth.”
“I see no alternative to continued in-depth electoral and judicial reforms, and free and fair local elections,” he added.
In the aftermath of the governing party’s withdrawal over what they called “insulting one-sided loyalty” to the agreement, Michel has already held an informal meeting with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to discuss the development.
The agreement was the conclusion of a nearly two-months long mediation, launched by Michel on March 1. The process aimed to resolve Georgia’s political crisis which ensued after all eight elected opposition parties rejected the results of the October 2020 general vote as “falsified,” and launched a boycott of parliament.
2.2 US reacts harshly to Georgian Dream leaving April 19 dream
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price and seven senators of the Foreign Relations Committee on July 28 levelled criticisms against the ruling Georgian Dream party in Georgia for quitting the EU-brokered April 19 agreement.
Georgian Dream announced on July 28 that it would be leaving the deal. Price
The Georgian Dream Party’s withdrawal from the April 19 Agreement undermines an agreed upon way forward for the country through needed reforms and risks a return to political crises. We call on all parties to work together to advance Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) July 29, 2021 argued that the withdrawal “undermines an agreed upon way forward for the country through needed reforms and risks a return to political crises.” He called on all political parties to
7 GEORGIA Country Report August 2021 www.intellinews.com