Another MP leaves parliament

By Natalia Kochiashvili

Wednesday, December 4

Former MP: “I do not see my place in such a confrontational and polarized politics”

Akaki Zoidze becomes 13th MP who has left the ruling party since the rejection of the election reform bill in November. Photo: RFE/RL

Majority MP Akaki Zoidze, who chairs the Parliament’s Healthcare and Social Issues Committee, has decided to quit Parliament and politics in general. He becomes the 13th MP from the ruling party who left the mandate after the GD-proposed election bill failed to pass on November 14, resulting in mass protests.

On November 22, Zoidze offered the chairperson of the Georgian Dream and the political council to hold a referendum or plebiscite on the issue of switching to the proportional electoral system. After the majority meeting at the Georgian Dream office on November 25, it was reported that according to the ruling party's decision, the parliamentary elections in 2020 would still be held with a mixed system.

“I was unable to persuade my colleagues to shift to the proportional electoral system. I think that was the way to move towards a constructive framework of consent and politics. I could not convince my colleagues to hold a plebiscite or a referendum, I can no longer see my place in current politics,” he said.

Zoidze thanked his colleagues and friends with whom he spent 3 years in the Georgian Parliament. He stated that he is devoted to the values the ruling party had back in 2016 when Zoidze entered the parliament via the GD party list. Former MP also expressed his readiness to advise the ruling team in the field of healthcare, in which he has a big experience.

“I am grateful to my colleagues with whom we have made good reforms for the country,” former MP announced, listing 3 reforms that he is proud to have participated in: the European Constitution, the accumulated pension and the tobacco control legislation. He also expressed regret for not being able to perform drug reform: “I hope the next convocation parliament will do so,” he added.

Paata Gogokhia, the next member of the Georgian Dream party's list, will replace him in parliament. Since Zoidze also served as the Chairman of the Parliament's Health Committee, this position has also become vacant in the legislature.

Currently, the election list of the Georgian Dream party is stalled by Benedict Kashakashvili, who will replace Sopo Katsarva in parliament, who rejected a parliamentary mandate after the fall of the proportional electoral system. Kashakashvili's parliamentary mandate is not yet known, as Katsarava's authority must be officially terminated.