Irakli Alasania, leader of the Free Democrats opposition party, announced about “temporarily quitting” politics.

He also said on October 10 that he will not be running in a second round race for a majoritarian MP seat in the town of Gori.

FD, led by Alasania, who was defense minister in 2012-2014, received 4.62% of votes, falling short of 5% threshold needed for a party to enter the new Parliament.

Alasania was running for a majoritarian MP seat in Gori’s single-mandate constituency in the Shida Kartli region, where he garnered 19.38% of votes and was expected to face in the second round runoff GDDG candidate Ioseb Makrakhidze, who has 33.69%. Alasania received 504 votes more than third-placed ex-defense minister Irakli Okruashvili.

After thanking his voters in Gori, Alasania said that he decided not to run in the second round of the majoritarian race as he won’t be able to deliver on his pre-election promises without having his political group in the Parliament.

“As I do not see a possibility to actively influence political processes and processes in the Parliament, I decided… to temporarily quit politics. No matter where I am, I will remain in the service of Georgia,” Alasania said.

“Although I respect the choice made by the Georgian voters [in the elections], I do not believe in it,” he added. 

Shortly before Alasania’s announcement, one of the leaders of the FD and ex-state minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Alexi Petriashvili, also said that he was quitting the political party.

Alasania said that the FD party will “continue its work” and prepare for next year’s local elections.