United Opposition to have new leader after summer break

The United Opposition will have a new leader in September when they return from a summer break, representatives for the seven-party bloc said yesterday.

They praised Levan Gachechiladze—a leading figure in the coalition who ran as its joint nominee in the January presidential election—but said it was time for a change.

Nominees from member parties will be put up for a vote.

“Levan is very good at his job, he has the qualities of a leader and is a very good friend, but he has already said his word in politics,” coalition member Gubaz Sanikidze told the television station Mze.

Sanikidze suggested the new leader could be well-known but a political newcomer.

Nominees from member parties will be put up for a vote.

But the move also sparked speculation that self-exiled former defense minister Irakli Okruashvili, who set up an opposition party last year, could be in the running.

Eka Beselia, secretary general of Okruashvili’s political party, said he would be a good candidate but added she had not yet discussed it with him.

The former defense minister won political asylum in France this year after Tbilisi City Court convicted him on a corruption charge stemming from his time in office.

“He would be a very good leader,” Beselia told the paper, but clarified that she had not actually nominated him since he currently cannot return to Georgia.

New Rights member Mamuka Katsitadze tipped his party’s leader, Davit Gamkrelidze, for the role. Gamkrelidze has been a key United Opposition figure since the New Rights joined the coalition in March.