Four Lelo party MPs and three other opposition lawmakers - Armaz Akhvlediani, Shalva Shavgulidze and Salome Samadashvili have established the Lelo – Partnership for Georgia faction in the new Parliament.

The faction will be chaired by Lelo leader Badri Japaridze, with MP Samadashvili, who formally quit the United National Movement yesterday, serving as deputy faction chair.

MP Samadashvili stressed the opposition must now prepare together for the nearing local elections to defeat the ruling Georgian Dream party and secure holding early elections in 2022.

According to the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, currently, seven lawmakers are required to form a faction, however, the number is set to drop to four MPs shortly, as indicated in the EU-brokered April 19 deal.