GEORGIA’S POLITICAL PARTIES CUT DEAL TO RESOLVE CRISIS

Under EU mediation, Georgia's parties on Tuesday reached a compromise to resolve the country's political crisis, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

The ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition lawmakers have agreed to work together in parliament. "The political crisis is over," EU Council President Charles Michel said on Tuesday in Tbilisi.

President Salome Zurabishvili said the agreement was important for Georgians, who are "tired of polarization, confrontation, and endless chaos." The agreement also sets out the conditions for early elections and allows for the possible release of jailed opposition politician Nika Melia. His arrest in February triggered a wave of protests.

The opposition had previously boycotted the new parliament after elections six months ago overshadowed by allegations of fraud. More than 15 lawmakers from differing opposition parties had pledged their support by Tuesday evening.

Together with the Georgian Dream, there were initially 114 lawmakers committed to working together. At least 113 votes are needed to alter the constitution, for example.

Talks with the largest opposition party, the United National Movement, are still pending, but its founder, the influential former president Mikhail Saakashvili, called on his supporters to back the agreement. The agreement provides a solid foundation for reform.

This was cited by Michel as key for EU-Georgian relations, along with electoral reform, judicial reform, and the consolidation of the rule of law. Michel assured Georgia of his support in these aims.

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