President Zourabichvili Warns of Regime Dismantling if Election Dialogue Fails
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
On December 23, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili delivered a stark message to the ruling Georgian Dream party and its honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, urging him to engage in dialogue to set a date for new elections. She warned that failure to reach an agreement by December 29 would lead to the "dismantling" of the current regime.
"The dialogue on these issues should be with me as a mediator, and with someone who participated in the elections and observed them. On the other side is [Bidzina] Ivanishvili and the representatives appointed by him. I don't know how many representatives... It's okay if he comes alone; I'll be alone then," Zourabichvili said, emphasizing that the country's crisis requires immediate resolution.
She stressed the need for compromise, saying, "Why postpone? This week, until December 29, I'm ready and I'll host. Let's meet in any format, it will be very easy."
Zourabichvili laid out her plan if dialogue didn't occur. "From the 29th, if a compromise or dialogue is not reached... the second option is, we will still reach the elections, but through the dismantling of this regime," she stated unequivocally.
She described the regime as already in decline, with more societal groups - including businesses and professionals - joining the protests. "This regime is already collapsing, and it seems that new segments of society, new officials from different fields, and new businesses are joining the protests every day," she said.
She added that the dismantling process would result from the government's inability to act responsibly, because they "did not come to your senses in time," Zourabichvili declared.
The president announced the creation of a council to manage the transition if no dialogue takes place. "The mandate of this council will be only one: to prepare for new elections," she explained.
Reaffirming her role, she said, "I remain the president of Georgia and will not abandon my legitimacy or my role as a representative of this country."
