The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that if President Salome Zourabichvili does not schedule the first session of Parliament, it will take place exactly on the tenth day after the official election results are published, which is November 25.
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According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the Parliament does not require the opposition's legitimacy in any country.
"If it were otherwise, no democratic system could function. The only legitimacy the country's Parliament needs is from the population - the voters, the Georgian people - and it is the Georgian people who have granted this legitimacy to the Parliament.
As for the first session of Parliament, the terms are defined by the Constitution.
We assume that Salome Zourabichvili, who remains the formal President of Georgia, will once again violate the Constitution by failing to schedule the first session of Parliament. In that case, the Parliament of Georgia will convene exactly on the tenth day after the official election results are published, which is November 25. This is what the Constitution of Georgia stipulates," said Kobakhidze.
Kobakhidze also expressed confidence that the opposition would eventually enter Parliament. According to him, members of the Unity - National Movement and Coalition for Changes submitted statements regarding their absence from Parliament "in violation of the law, so they would not have to submit them again."
"I believe that, in the end, everyone will enter Parliament. These statements are neither legal nor legitimate. In reality, everyone knows they will eventually have to join Parliament," the Prime Minister stated.
On Saturday, November 16, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia, signed the summary protocol of the October 26 parliamentary elections. As per the final results of the CEC, Georgian Dream secured 53.93% of the votes, winning 89 out of 150 mandates in the legislative body. The Coalition for Change received 11.03% of the votes and 19 mandates, Unity - National Movement obtained 10.17% and 16 mandates, Strong Georgia garnered 8.81% and 14 mandates, and the party Gakharia for Georgia achieved 7.78% and 12 mandates.
Members of the opposition reject the results announced by the CEC, claiming the elections were "totally falsified." They refuse to enter Parliament, demanding an international investigation and new elections. The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, has also refused to recognize the elections as legitimate.
