Debates are an integral part of democracy, and we are always ready for open and public discussion. That is precisely why we are present in Parliament today, the party Gakharia for Georgia said in a statement.
Party claims that if Georgian Dream fails to engage in debates on its own television channel without the participation of so-called satellite parties, it will constitute yet another serious mistake.
“Our position on debates is clear and unequivocal: debates are an inseparable part of democracy, and we are always ready for public and open discussion. Unfortunately, it was Georgian Dream itself that refused debates, particularly ahead of elections, when it closed its own television channels to alternative opinions and turned them into instruments of propaganda.
We, of course, welcome the reopening of debates on these channels. However, we remind the authorities that the value of debates is determined by their format and content. What Rustavi 2 proposed on February 2—where Georgian Dream insists on the participation of its satellite parties—is not a debate, but a farce and a continuation of propaganda.
If Georgian Dream does not dare to engage in debates on its own television channel without satellite parties, this will be yet another mistake.
Once again, we confirm our readiness to participate in live debates—one-on-one or in any other appropriate format—with representatives of the ruling party on any television channel, to discuss any issue that matters to the citizens of Georgia,” the statement reads.
