Lawmakers from Georgia’s ruling party opened the first session of parliament on Monday, November 25, after last month’s disputed election, defying protesters outside and a boycott by opposition parties who say the vote was illegitimate, Reuters reports.
Official results for the Oct. 26 election showed the ruling Georgian Dream party re-elected with almost 54% of the vote, a result that opposition parties have said was fraudulent.
Opposition parties had vowed to prevent the ruling Georgian Dream party from convening a new parliamentary session, and declared that they would boycott the new parliament.
Protesters gathered on Sunday night and pitched tents outside the parliament building in a bid to block Georgian Dream lawmakers from entering the complex.
But on Monday morning, Georgian Dream MPs entered parliament, and opened the new legislative session, with no opposition lawmakers present.
