Giorgi Gakharia, chairman of the For Georgia party, explained the reasons behind the failure of negotiations for a potential alliance with Lelo, which is part of the Strong Georgia coalition.

“It was a mistake to initiate these negotiations so close to the elections without adequate preparation… Once it became clear that a neutral political platform was unattainable, continuing the talks only led to further complications. The process was undermined by the other side’s greed, which turned the discussions into an exercise in assigning blame for the negotiation’s failure.

Mamuka Khazaradze rejected the notion of a neutral platform… A neutral platform was deemed impossible. The principle of equitable decision-making was also challenged, as the coalition involved multiple entities and the relationships among them remained unclear. Moreover, there was a refusal to adhere to the principle of forming a coalition with neither Georgian Dream nor UNM.

One of the stipulations set by Lelo was, for instance, Gakharia should not be on the list. Although Madam President supported me, the issue at hand was so significant and critical that I agreed to it. I am not alone - I never claim to be the sole representative of the party. I have a large team, and, unlike many other parties, our team is remarkably stable. We have been working together for about ten years, starting with a shared vision, which eventually led us to roles in the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the government.

It took considerable effort on my part, and I was unable to convince many. I have been speaking to these individuals, telling them that they may need to go on a list from which I cannot be included, and many were resistant. Some were opposed to the idea. Such decisions require careful preparation. While people are currently gathering the necessary documents, this process has begun. Setting a firm point for our negotiations now is guided not only by the existing contradictions but also by the timelines involved. For some reason, the other side has not been open about this, as they believe that increasing media pressure will yield favourable results. However, that approach will not succeed, and we may all face consequences”, - explained Giorgi Gakharia.