Saakashvili re-elected chairman of United National Movement
By Nazrin Gadimova
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was re-elected chairman of the United National Movement (UNM) at a meeting in Tbilisi last week.
Moreover, the Political Council of the party was approved, as well as former parliamentary speaker Davit Bakradze was elected as its chairman at the meeting.
Speaking about UNM's relations with the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bakradze said that the confrontation between parties must be finished.
"Today was the renewal of our party. We must do everything to avoid direct confrontation," he said.
According to Bakradze, UNM does not seek revenge goals, but thinks about Georgia's moving ahead.
Also, Georgian Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili was elected General Secretary of the party. Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava, former Health Minister Zurab Chiaberashvili and deputies from UNM in parliament also became the members of the Political Council.
Thousands of delegates from all over Georgia arrived in Tbilisi to participate in the meeting, which UNM held three weeks before the presidential elections.
President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement lost the October 1, 2012 parliamentary elections, gaining only 67 out of 150 seats in parliament and became the opposition, while the rival Georgian Dream led by Bidzina Ivanishvili won the election, gaining 83 seats.