Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream, has announced his return to politics as the party’s “Honorary Chairman”. He announced his return to politics during a Georgian Dream party congress and explained the reasons of such decision.

“Exactly three years ago, I announced to the public my decision to distance myself from active political processes. Now, three years later, by my own decision, I’m returning to political life in the role of the party’s honorary chair.

Our party had the opportunity to fully protect Georgia’s national identity, restore the state sovereignty and territorial integrity, put Georgia in the ranks of high-income countries by 2030, and join the European Union.

The responsibility to lead our country to final victory and make full use of opportunities of the country has brought me back to politics.

Our motherland, our honourable and proud nation deserves only the best. It is the responsibility of each of us to work until the end for the progress and success of Georgia. It was this liability that brought me back to politics once again.

I am returning to political life at my own initiative after distancing myself from active political processes. I did not come into politics for any position.

I left politics in one year [after serving as the Prime Minister] with the belief that I had accomplished my mission and the criminals [the United National Movement] would never have the ambition to return to power. However, as it turned out later, the criminal political system had deeper roots than it seemed at first glance…

The only thing I could not foresee [after leaving politics] was the betrayal of the country and the team by Giorgi Gakharia, [the former Prime Minister] just one month after I distanced myself from politics. At that time, I had to assume the function of an advisor, and if I had not helped the team with consultations, the processes would have developed in the most difficult scenario for the country.

Georgia is facing difficult challenges today, including the complicated geopolitical situation around the country. In such times, even a small mistake on the part of the Government could cost the country dearly.

Georgia"s national goals can be considered essentially fulfilled only after we fully protect the national identity, fully restore the state’s sovereignty, unite the country and perform foreign political tasks - Georgia"s main foreign political task today is integration into the EU…

Domestic opposition is responsible for controlling the ruling team. But unfortunately, the opposition has been completely destroyed. Instead of the opposition parties’ effective control, there is only a torrent of lies flowing daily from their media outlets, that has become so worn out that it can no longer cause even the slightest discomfort to the ruling team.

In the conditions of the destruction of the opposition, the risks in the ruling team are increasing. The absence of the opposition can easily make the ruling party dizzy and at ease”, - said Bidzina Ivanishvili.

He stressed that in this new role, he would be “the main advisor” of the party, not intending to “substitute the functions of the party’s actual chairman [Irakli Kobakhidze]”, whom he congratulated for “excellent” management. Ivanishvili said the party needs his “political and life experience” to “lead the country to final victory”.