It would be better to hold local elections separately and set a different timetable for possible future new elections - Michael Gahler

All parties must compromise, but the main responsibility falls on the ruling team because it is in power and it is the government, - stated Michael Gahler, an MEP, in an interview to  the „Mtavari Cannel”.
He says that the government should take the first step in the negotiations, and after its first move it is logical to wait for a response from the opposition

“We know there are issues that can be addressed: This is electoral reform and the judiciary, which should not be politicized. Unfortunately, Georgia is not alone in this issue, the same problems exist in Ukraine. The key is to carry out such a reform that your judiciary becomes independent and free, disobeying the orders of any political leader. - says Gahler.

The MEP also talks about political prisoners Giorgi Rurua and Nika Melia. He says these are two different cases and a different way to solve each case must be found. As for the snap elections, Gahler thinks that it should be held independently of the local elections.

“As for the snap elections and linking them  to the local elections, I think it would be better to hold the local elections separately and set a different timetable for the possible future of new elections. Georgian politicians must decide on a new date, which can be reached through compromise.”– says MEP. 

According to him, the EU is considering suspending funding for Georgia as a last resort, but "if the process continues in this way, naturally discussions will begin in the EU.

“Stopping aid is the last thing we want as friends of Georgia to do, but if the processes continue like this, naturally, a discussion will start in the European Union, among those Europeans who are not at all so friendly towards Georgia. Such questions will be asked by our budget controllers, why do you send European taxpayers money where democracy is in trouble. Because we are allocating this aid to fulfill the terms of the Association and Free Trade Agreement, because we want Georgia to be a functioning democracy, rather than what happens is that we help and fund a country where they block each other and the government is ignored by the opposition and the opposition is not in parliament. We want to help Georgia, which is on the path to Europe, the path that most of your citizens support,”- says Michael Gahler in an interview with Mtavari Channel.