Regarding the issue of a Tbilisi mayoral candidate, we [Gakharia's party and Lelo] will not start bickering with each other. I believe we will agree on the right candidate,” – said Giorgi Sharashidze, one of the leaders of the “Gakharia for Georgia” party, in response to a statement made within his party that Giorgi Sharashidze is being considered as one of the mayoral candidates.

As Sharashidze told “InterpressNews,” signing a memorandum of cooperation with “Lelo – Strong Georgia” was a step toward compromise.

“No final decision has yet been made on who will be the mayoral candidate. We have signed a memorandum with the ‘Strong Georgia’ coalition, which includes two options: first, that we agree on a party-affiliated candidate, and second, that we agree on a non-partisan candidate. We still have time until September 4 to choose a candidate acceptable to the public.

The memorandum was signed specifically as a step toward compromise. I hope everyone understands that clearly — both in Lelo and in our party. I know for sure that our team understands this well. We will not start bickering over it. In the end, I believe we will agree on the right candidate. There’s still time. As a member of the Tbilisi City Council, I have a lot of information about the city’s problems, and if I have the support of the team, I will do many good things,” Sharashidze said.

Sharashidze also noted that he does not consider it likely that they and “Lelo” will fail to agree on a mayoral candidate and run separately in the election.

“No, we’re not considering that. The country is facing serious challenges. That would amount to breaking the agreement and memorandum. Why did we do all this then? The main thing is that we don’t compete with each other. That’s what’s most important. I believe that rational thinking exists in Lelo as well as in our team.

I think when we align our positions with compromise, reason, and based on objective data, we’ll make the right decision. In my party, there are multiple candidates besides me who could be worthy competitors — I could name up to 10 people who would be strong candidates. It’s not just about the mayoral candidate — we also have majoritarian MPs. We have to coordinate on 25 candidates in other cities. We’ll divide responsibilities based on where each of us is needed,” he said.

He also spoke about the problems and challenges in the capital, emphasizing that first and foremost, Tbilisi must be saved from corruption, and that his education would be very useful for implementing European-style governance.

“I hold a master’s degree in public administration and another in business management, and the combination of these two professions is very beneficial for European-style governance. Tbilisi must be saved, first and foremost, from corruption — which, under Kaladze’s mayoral leadership in recent years, has destroyed everything: the city's historical appearance, cultural heritage, and citizens' safety. Corruption isn’t just about officials unjustly enriching themselves. It’s a problem that affects the lives of Tbilisi residents. Whoever the candidate is, our team’s main mission is to free Tbilisi from Kaladze’s corrupt rule. I’ve been a city council member for four years, and from the very first day I entered the council, my main focus as a deputy has been corruption. From the first session, we’ve been demanding the creation of an anti-corruption commission. We clearly see the corruption risks associated with managing a multi-million budget,” Sharashidze noted.

For reference, the party “Gakharia for Georgia” has announced that Giorgi Sharashidze is being considered as one of the candidates for Tbilisi mayor. Meanwhile, “Lelo” has stated that Aleko Elisashvili is also among the candidates being considered for mayor.