“Upon obtaining a constitutional majority, we will initiate a legal process that will result in the United National Movement and all its satellite or successor parties being declared unconstitutional,” the statement added.
Georgian Dream’s statement aims to convince voters the party needs to regain a constitutional majority in order to execute its promises. However, even without having a constitutional majority they can already appeal to the Constitutional court to outlaw a party that “aims to overthrow or forcibly change the constitutional order of Georgia, to infringe on the independence and territorial integrity of the country, or to propagandize war or violence.”
Besides banning UNM, Georgian Dream said it also intends push through the Russia-style law curtailing LGBTQ+ rights which the EU and human rights organizations have warned against.
The ruling party also stated that it wants to amend the constitution to “peacefully restore” Georgia’s territorial integrity so that it “corresponds to the new reality,” not specifying details but sparking opposition fears that it might mean concessions to Russia, which last year threatened to annex Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Parliamentary elections in Georgia will take place on Oct. 26. The six opposition parties in June agreed to work together to topple the ruling party which they say has derailed the country’s bid to join the EU.
Dato Parulava contributed to this report.
