The third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, has declared Nanuka Zhorzholiani as his candidate for the chairmanship of the United National Movement (UNM) party. According to Saakashvili, the mandates of all party officials expire in July, making it necessary to hold leadership elections in a format that rules out any interference from the authorities.
“As for the changes in the United National Movement, they will be fundamental, not cosmetic. The party needs to be not just revitalized, but brought into even better shape than it was in 2003…
My candidate for the post of chairperson is Nanuka Zhorzholiani. She has the experience, energy, and vision to meet this challenge. At the same time, I invite everyone who has the desire and a vision for reform to participate in the electoral process. Everyone should have the opportunity to run, and it must be a competition of ideas and programs.”
Saakashvili noted that in the event of her victory, Zhorzholiani would implement reforms together with the party’s core—both veterans and new members.
According to the former president, unlike many other parties, the UNM is neither a business project nor a one-man party.
“It is run from the bottom up by a broad grassroots base, and the position of our supporters is decisive for us.”
Saakashvili emphasized that implementing reforms is particularly crucial at a time when he himself, along with Levan Khabeishvili and Irakli Nadiradze, are in detention.
“Our victory and the victory of Georgia are inevitable!” Saakashvili wrote on Facebook.