TBILISI, December 17 (RIA Novosti) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ruled out on Wednesday holding presidential elections in the country next year, dismissing the opposition's wishes for a vote in the spring.
"That would be silly. I don't want to get people excited just because a few politicians don't want to work," the president told journalists on Wednesday evening. "Even though they were elected to parliament, they don't go out of protest."
He reminded the journalists that Georgia held presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 2008. "This year alone we lost $1 billion in direct foreign investment because of unplanned elections," he said.
The Georgian president said the attempts by the opposition to call new elections were "irresponsible."
Saakashvili has said that he does not plan on running for president after his term ends in 2013.
