Salome Zurabishvili: We are in a deep crisis and what we need most is stability – I am staying on as president to ensure stability during the transition period until new elections

I remain in the post of President because this country needs stability. Everything is falling apart. In this country, under the rule of the “Georgian Dream”, there is no independent institution left, except for the institution of the president. One-party rule prevails in all other institutions, and one-man rule in the party, – the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, stated this in an interview with the BBC.

According to her, every day more and more people take to the streets to protest.

“But what is more important and unusual in the country is that we see people leaving public services in ministries, in various institutions. It is also new for Georgia that spontaneous protest rallies are being held in every city, usually the center of any form of protest was Tbilisi. Political parties have not entered and will not enter the parliament. So, we are in this deep crisis and what we need most is stability. I believe that I am proposing this stability for the transitional period, because what the people are demanding on the streets and protesting for is the demand for new elections so that this country can return to the European path,” the President noted.

Asked what would happen if the Georgian Dream ignored this demand, the President replied:

“And what would happen if we ignore them? I think that is what these people are doing on the streets. Despite the violence, despite the force used against them, nothing changes in their determination,” the President noted.

She stressed that the country needs stability and preparation for elections, and that the transitional period should be as short and stable as possible.

“I will remain in the post of President, the National Format Council, political parties, civil society will help me in the political part of the protest, because I am not leading the protest on the streets, which is very spontaneous. We need stability and we need preparation for elections. In this regard, the European Parliament resolution, which also calls for new elections, will be very important, there will be a decision by the European Council in mid-December, and the technical mission that they are sending to Georgia will help us discuss the conditions for the next elections in order to finally have free and fair elections. So this should be a transitional period, and the transitional period should be as short and stable as possible,” the President noted.

Asked whether she feels safe and whether she thinks they might be arrested, the President replied: “I don’t think so.”

“I am protected by the people who are out on the streets. I think that today the ruling party is very isolated and will become more and more isolated. What is important for all of us now, and I hope they will accept this, is a stable transitional period, new elections that will not completely oust them from power, they will remain to the extent that free and fair elections will give them mandates in parliament,” the President noted.