There are two ways to change the government: through elections or through violence. Our team is not revolutionary. We believe that a political party must use every legal and constitutional tool available in every arena. Our partners share this view as well, – said Ana Buchukuri, a member of the "For Georgia" party, during the "Newsroom" program on Palitra News.

According to Buchukuri, no one, either inside or outside the country, can influence her party’s decisions.

“For our Western partners, it is incomprehensible how a political party could choose not to use political tools of struggle, such as elections – no matter how flawed. Elections remain one of the key instruments of political battle. Theoretically, there are two ways to change a government: one is through elections (we are well aware of how past elections were held, and of course, we are not expecting any miracles now), and the other is through violence. Our team is not revolutionary. We believe that political parties must use every available legal and constitutional lever in every field. Our partners see it the same way,” she stated.

She also addressed the argument made by some opposition politicians that participating in the local elections is like walking into a minefield.

“A minefield is everyday life for every member of an opposition party in Georgia. Isn’t what’s happening to opposition leaders and members today a minefield? Was it not a minefield when a former prime minister was attacked in Batumi and the case remains unresolved? Isn’t it a minefield when some opposition leaders are behind bars? We make our own decisions – I’m not in the opposition by force. My decision is based on my values, and I willingly stand in this minefield. Our daily life is a minefield,” said Buchukuri.

She noted that from the beginning, “For Georgia” stated that any decision regarding participation or non-participation in the elections would be a choice between bad and worse.

“There is no perfect decision in this situation because the situation is very grave and very difficult. Sure, boycott is a tool – I’ve used it myself in the previous Parliament. For the past two months, I personally was boycotting, but not by sitting back with my legs crossed. My team and I were simultaneously traveling to regions and preparing for the 2024 parliamentary elections.

We asked a very simple question to the opposition parties: if you decide to boycott, fine – but what then? What’s the plan? Not one of them answered that question. Giving toasts is not an answer.

I’m not pessimistic about the elections. We’re not afraid of the minefield. And if we flip their logic around – for example, when new elections are announced, it will again be Ivanishvili calling them, right? So, does that mean it will never make sense to participate in elections? The fact is, we haven’t yet reached the point of changing electoral conditions – but we must. Those who say they are boycotting, yet cannot explain what they’ll do instead, are missing the point. We believe that everything must be used.”

Regarding the opposition, she added: “Let me use Georgian Dream’s term here – the ‘collective UNM’ – referring to the old and new United National Movement members acting together. A political party that has been in the opposition for 13 years and hasn’t managed to force a single concession or win anything from the government on any front has fought a completely ineffective battle. For such a party to claim that their position is the ultimate truth is, for me personally, laughable,” Buchukuri said.