Ruling Party Slams Republicans

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze described the Republican Party?s decision to run for Adjara elections separately as ?a mistake.? 

Republican Party, which is in the coalition with the ruling National Movement-Democrats party in the Georgia Parliament, participated in the June 20 local elections in the Adjara Autonomous Republic independently and was the major contender to the President Saakashvili?s supporter Victorious Adjara party.

?I think this case will be discussed by the ruling party. We will listen to the Republicans explanations, why they have chosen to act like this,? Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, who is one of the leaders of the ruling party, told reporters on June 21.

?I think we should revise our cooperation with the Republican Party. It is abnormal situation: the Republicans are our allies in the Parliament, while they act as our opposition in Adjara. We should deal with this situation,? MP Nodar Grigalashvili of ruling party told reporters on June 21.

The Republican Party, which accused the authorities of ballot-rigging in Adjara elections, itself intends to discuss possibility of separation from the ruling party and going into opposition. Currently the Republican Party has six MPs endorsed in the Georgian Parliament through the party-list of the ruling party.

According to the early official results President Saakashvili?s Victorious Adjara party won a landslide victory with 75%, while the Republicans received only 9% support.

Pro-Saakashvili Victorious Adjara also secured seats in all 12 of Adjara?s single-mandate constituencies.

As a result Victorious Adjara will allocate 28 seats in Adjarian 30-member parliament. Remaining two seats will be occupied by the Republican Party members.