The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, introduced a new initiative “United Platform for Europe”, inviting political parties and civil society to participate in its formation.
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“The country yearns for unity. Society no longer believes in, nor desires to witness, the schemes of party unification that have already been attempted more than once. It remains unconvinced by singular claims of absolute victory. What it needs is a tangible objective, a rallying point that brings together vital forces and mobilizes energy toward a singular goal. We have a goal - the European future, and to achieve this, consolidation of key priorities is imperative. This can be accomplished through the formation of a united platform. This is what I am proposing - to create a charter of the future - a united platform for Europe,” stated Salome Zurabishvili during her annual address to Parliament on February 6.
The President expressed her readiness to establish a coordination center that will consolidate all specific proposals regarding European priorities, and through dialogue and consensus, it will facilitate to crafting of a united document.
“For this purpose, in the coming days, I intend to meet with representatives from across the political spectrum as well as interested individuals from civil society. This approach aims to be inclusive, and I am fully receptive to meeting and listening to all. There is no alternative winning formula, as the divisions and confrontations of the past will only breed skepticism and hopelessness, ultimately weakening the country.
The winning formula does not signify the triumph of any particular side or party, but rather the triumph of unity, Europeanness, and the country itself,” Zourabichvili added. She underscored that Georgia's designation as a candidate country for EU membership on December 15 was a victory for the entire nation.
The opposition has responded to the President's initiative. Tina Bokuchava, a member of parliament from the United National Movement, emphasized that their party prioritizes the “European, hence national interests of the country.” They believe that “joint efforts are crucial before the elections to effectuate change.”
The Lelo party welcomed the establishment of a platform to expedite European integration. Davit Usupashvili stated that they are prepared to present their plan within this framework and engage in dialogue with others.
“We will strive to unify on this matter, although I am skeptical given the insurmountable ambitions of our opposition leaders,” remarked Aleko Elisashvili, leader of the Citizens party.
Regarding the ruling party, Georgian Dream, there appears to be a lack of interest in the President's proposal. According to Prime Minister candidate, Irakli Kobakhidze, Salome Zurabishvili “intends to create a pseudo-Shuashist political force, and for this purpose, she plans to resign in September and participate in the elections.”
In December 2023, the European Council granted Georgia candidate country status for EU membership, contingent upon the government's commitment to undertake actions across nine key areas. These include combating political polarization, judicial reform, de-oligarchization, and ensuring free, fair, and competitive electoral processes, particularly in 2024. The EU ambassador urged political leaders to take these reforms seriously. Pawel Herczynski emphasized that, based on the experience of Western Balkan countries, those which earnestly pursue reforms tend to make faster progress towards European integration compared to those that make superficial changes.
