Bidzina Ivanishvili says securing constitutional majority in upcoming elections will allow ruling party to thoroughly enhance country's political system

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday noted that a political force that had committed “grave crimes” against its own country and people, and that was still pushing the nation towards a war, should not even have a theoretical possibility of returning to power, in reference to the opposition United National Movement party.

In his speech at a campaign meeting in the central Georgian city of Gori, Ivanishvili asserted that after securing a constitutional majority in the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26, the Georgian Dream Party would initiate a legal process that would declare the United National Movement party and its satellite and successor parties “unconstitutional”.

“These individuals must be severely prosecuted for all the grave crimes they committed against the country and the people, especially the serious treason committed in 2008”, Ivanishvili said.

He further reminded the public of the irreparable consequences inflicted on the country by the united National Movement party.

“It has been 16 years since those fateful events, yet the wounds inflicted at that time have not yet healed. You have experienced firsthand how governmental betrayal can devastate a country - resulting in the occupation of historical regions, the displacement of tens of thousands from their homes, and the loss of hundreds of Georgian lives. This is the enduring legacy of the United National Movement regime”, Ivanishvili noted.

The Honorary Chair stressed that securing a constitutional majority would allow the ruling team to “fundamentally” reform the country’s political system.

“For the effective functioning of a democratic system, it is vital that healthy political forces compete for power and periodically replace each other in government. As long as the opposition is seen as a unified group of wrongdoers, a healthy democratic system will never be established in Georgia”, Ivanishvili continued.

He further emphasised other significant points that would be implemented upon securing a constitutional majority.

“We have already presented the constitutional bill on the family values and protection of minors in the Parliament, which faces opposition from radical groups, just like all other national initiatives. They know well that the public becomes submissive when it renounces its past, history, and values. After securing a constitutional majority, we will reflect the wishes of the vast majority of the country's citizens in the Constitution, and we will protect both family values and the interests of minors at the highest constitutional level”, Ivanishvili noted.

Ivanishvili noted that after securing a constitutional majority, the Georgian Dream party would enact a constitutional law declaring Orthodoxy as the “pillar” of the state's identity.

“Georgia and Orthodoxy are inseparable concepts.Christian faith, alongside the homeland and native language, is one of the fundamental pillars of Georgian identity that requires special care and protection.Therefore, as soon as we secure a constitutional majority, we will enact a constitutional law declaring Orthodoxy as the pillar of the state's identity”, Ivanishvili concluded.