The best solution here is a new election - Alde President Hans van Baalen

According to the President of the Alliance of Liberal Democrats, Hans van Baalen, the best solution to the political crisis in Georgia is new elections. According to him, if the opposition parties decide on new elections, Europe will support them.

Hans van Baalen spoke about the current political events in Georgia in the program of the Mtavari Channel "Guest of the Day":

"As for the new elections, I read the final conclusion of the OSCE / ODIHR and saw that it is very difficult for them to call these elections free and fair, so the best choice here is a new election. If the United National Movement and other opposition parties decide that this is the main way then we will support them at the European level. It will be an exchange of views and I expect that some concrete steps will be taken.
I myself was a member of the European Parliament and I think that now Charles Michel should continue mediation. In my opinion, the majority of the European Parliament wants dialogue and also the release of Nika Melia and other prisoners, "said Hans van Baalen.

As he noted, it is important for the dialogue between the Georgian government and the opposition parties that the Georgian government show good will and release the chairman of the United National Movement, Nika Melia, and other political prisoners.

"First of all, I think it is very important for the government to show good will and release Nika Melia and other political prisoners in order to start a national dialogue.
As you know, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, took the initiative and put the parties at one table. He spoke to the opposition and the government at the same time, and it was more mediation than facilitation.
On March 16, the EU-Georgia Association Council will be held and there will be a discussion on how to continue the talks, but before that Nika Melia must be released," said Hans van Baalen.

According to Hans van Baalen, it is important that the Georgian Dream and the opposition sit down at the negotiating table. According to him, it would be best if a political solution is found to the situation. As he points out, if this does not happen, the issue of sanctions will be considered only afterward.

"Let the EU-Georgia Association Council end first. I have been to Georgia, probably 6-7 times in the last 10 years, and I see your country as an important player, pro-European, aspiring to join NATO; but which is being threatened by Russia, and which is located in the unstable as a whole region. Therefore, before we talk about sanctions, let us first try to hold a dialogue and put the opposition and the Georgian Dream at the same table.
It would be best if we find a political solution to this case. If this does not work, then everything else should be considered.
I do not want Russia to use this issue to its advantage. It has already occupied a large part of your country and now will be trying to gain more influence, so we have to be careful. The first demand of European liberals is the release of Nika Melia and others, then negotiations should take place, and only then if nothing works, can we think about sanctions," he said.