TBILISI -- Prominent Georgian opposition leader Irakli Alasania says his Free Democrats party (TD) will not join former President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement's (ENM) push for a no-confidence vote against the government.
Alasania, whose party holds eight seats of the 150 seats in parliament, criticized both Saakashvili and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the tycoon who led the Georgian Dream coalition to power in 2012.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels on March 23, Alasania said bitter rivals Ivanishvili and Saakashvili "need each other" and "use each other to scare people."
Tens of thousands of people called for the government's resignation at a rally organized by ENM in Tbilisi on March 21.
The party, which has 65 seats, is planning more protests and seeking a no-confidence vote in parliament, where Georgian Dream has a majority.
Alasania was appointed Defense Minister after Georgian Dream came to power, but was dimissed in November after criticizing the government and went into opposition.