Split in the UNM

The quitting of the opposition party United National Movement (UNM) by its four MPs is likely to be unexpected by other members of the party.

The ruling Georgian Dream governing party seemed happy with the fact, while the analysts are trying to anticipate the consequences of the leaving.

The UNM MPs Zurab Japaridze, Goga Khachidze, Pavle Kublashvili and Giorgi Meladze confirmed their resignation through the social network, saying that they had real grounds for taking the step.

Part of the UNM lawmakers have assessed the solution negatively, stressing that it was an irresponsible action, promoting the interests of the current authorities and the founder of the Georgian Dream coalition Bidzina Ivanishvili.

“It is not easy to evaluate the step of our four former members. They should have spoken out about the reasons of dissatisfaction within the party and refrained from launching a partisan action. It is obvious that their solution benefits only Ivanishvili’s goals. They left the battlefield…from a human point of view their step is very regrettable, while there is nothing dramatic when it comes to politics,” UNM MP Nugzar Tsiklauri said.

Fellow UNM MP Levan Tarkhnishvili stated that the major goal of the UNM is defeating the current leadership and taking the country out of the current economic troubles.

“The four men failed to support the necessary development,” Tarkhnishvili said.

UNM’s Giga Bokeria added that the pSeople could not bear the responsibility placed on them.

Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania said that that the UNM MPs solution was logical.

“The unity of the party until now was surprising for me. It is a logical process,” Narmania claims.

Analyst Tornike Sharashenidaze believes that the unity was the most important aspect for the UNM.

“There has always been controversies within the party, but they refrained from their public demonstration. I do not believe that the UNM is playing some game through the quit… The fact is that the UNM required unity for achieving their goals,” Sharashenidze says.

It is hard to say what stands behind the solution. However, time will show what the real motivation was for the Mps, who were very active in their statements in favor of the UNM and against the current leadership. Their leaving will not change the configuration in the legislative body; if some other members of the UNM do not leave the party, the UNM will keep the position of the major opposition group in parliament.