Guram Macharashvili, an MP from People’s Power, commented to journalists on the issue of electing a new Patriarch, stating that certain groups are not genuinely interested in Church affairs but rather aim to discredit it.

"When, at a rally, someone says that the Patriarch represents dark forces and that clergy are bearded representatives of old forces, and people applaud - how can anyone now believe that these people care about what is happening in the Patriarchate or how the members of the Holy Synod will elect the Patriarch? They are interested only in smearing the Patriarchate and the Church," Macharashvili said.

According to him, the Georgian people demonstrated their priorities during the days of March 17–21, and “this is why foreign and local agents are angered and confused.”

"Not only Georgian society but the international community saw that the Georgian people demonstrated their priorities during March 17–21. That is why they are enraged and confused - starting from abroad to local foreign agents. Now they are fighting the locum tenens of the Patriarch and the Church, trying to create division.

Since when have people - from Gvaramia to any supporter of the ‘National Movement’ - been interested in the Church?"

Macharashvili reiterated that such groups are focused on discrediting the Church rather than engaging with its internal processes.

Speaking on the same topic, he added that nominating a candidate for Patriarch is the right of the Holy Synod members:

"The functions of the state and the Church are, of course, separate, but we cannot ignore the fact that the absolute majority of the Church’s congregation are citizens of Georgia.

As for the election of the Patriarch, we all know that this is ensured, among other things, through agreement. Regarding candidates, naturally, members of the Synod have the right to nominate or not nominate candidates as they see fit. This is even specified in the governing regulations - a Synod member has the right to put forward their own candidacy," Macharashvili said.