Georgian Dream
Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia ქართული ოცნება – დემოკრატიული საქართველო | |
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Chairman | Irakli Garibashvili |
Secretary-General | Kakha Kaladze |
Honorary Chairman | Bidzina Ivanishvili |
Executive Secretary | Mamuka Mdinaradze |
Political Secretary | Irakli Kobakhidze |
Regional Secretary | Dimitri Samkharadze |
Relations with Political Parties Secretary | Gia Volski |
Founder | Bidzina Ivanishvili |
Founded | 21 April 2012 |
Ideology | |
Political position | Big tent[10] |
European affiliation | Party of European Socialists (observer) (2015–2023)[11] |
Colours | |
Slogan | თავისუფლება, სწრაფი განვითარება, კეთილდღეობა ("Freedom, Rapid Development, Welfare") |
Seats In Parliament | 74 / 150 |
Municipal Councilors | 1,359 / 2,068 |
Seats In Supreme Council of Adjara | 14 / 21 |
Seats In Tbilisi City Assembly | 29 / 50 |
Seats In Kutaisi City Assembly | 18 / 35 |
Seats In Batumi City Assembly | 17 / 35 |
Municipal Mayors | 63 / 64 |
Website | |
gd.ge | |
Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (Georgian: ქართული ოცნება – დემოკრატიული საქართველო, romanized: kartuli otsneba – demok'rat'iuli sakartvelo) is a political party in Georgia. The party was established on 19 April 2012 by businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili.[12] Georgian Dream and its partners in a coalition also named Georgian Dream won majorities in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 general elections. The party is currently led by Irakli Garibashvili as Party Chairman and Irakli Kobakhidze as Prime Minister.
History
The party evolved from the public movement Georgian Dream, launched by Bidzina Ivanishvili as a platform for his political activities in December 2011. Since Ivanishvili was not a Georgian citizen at the moment of the party's inaugural session, the lawyer Manana Kobakhidze was elected as an interim, nominal chairman of the Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia. The party also includes several notable Georgians such as the former diplomat Tedo Japaridze, chess grandmaster Zurab Azmaiparashvili, security commentator Irakli Sesiashvili, writer Guram Odisharia, and famed footballer Kakha Kaladze.[13][14]
Georgian Dream was created partly as a reaction to the United National Movement (UNM) of Mikheil Saakashvili, which became increasingly unpopular in a decade of rule for its neoliberal economic policy, extremely punitive criminal justice system and confrontational approach to Russia. The regime was described as "an extremely punitive and abusive criminal justice, law-and-order system, which ended up with the highest per capita prison population in Europe – even higher than in Russia – in which torture became absolutely routine... Almost zero acquittal cases in criminal trials, mass surveillance, telephone tapping, and a lot of pressure put on businessmen, including intimidation, so they contribute to government projects."[15]
Events such as violent dispersal of 2007 and 2011 Georgian demonstrations, 2012 Gldani prison scandal involving revelations about systemic torture of inmates in Georgian prisons, 2006 Sandro Girgvliani murder case and loss of territories in 2008 Russo-Georgian War contributed to the party's increasing loss of support among general population. However, before Georgian Dream, no other party managed to unite opposition and mobilize popular support.
Formation in 2012 and electoral successes
In April 2012, Georgian Dream became a political party, and staged several mass demonstrations against the Saakashvili government. On 21 February 2012, Ivanishvili announced a coalition under the name "Georgian Dream", composed of his planned political party of the same name, the Republican Party of Georgia, Our Georgia – Free Democrats, and the National Forum. Bidzina Ivanishvili, a businessman primarily known for charity and contributions to public projects, became a leader of the united opposition movement. Georgian Dream successfully challenged the ruling United National Movement (UNM) in the 2012 parliamentary election, pledging to increase welfare spending and pursue a more pragmatic foreign policy with Russia.[13][16] It won this election in coalition with six other opposition parties, with 54.97% of the vote, being allotted 85 seats in parliament.[12] The governing UNM took 40.34%. President Mikheil Saakashvili conceded that his party lost, and pledged to support the constitutional process of forming a new government.[17]
On 25 October 2012, Bidzina Ivanishvili was elected as the prime minister of Georgia. During this period, the State Universal Healthcare Program came into force (making emergency surgeries and childbirth free of charge), the reform of the system of self-governance was initiated and the project on saving agriculture was developed. In November 2013, Ivanishvili voluntarily stepped down as prime minister after just 13 months in office, saying that he was quitting the political arena.
In October 2013, Giorgi Margvelashvili, a member of the Georgian Dream party, won the presidential election, gaining 61.12% of the vote.[18] He succeeded President Mikheil Saakashvili, who had served the maximum two terms since coming to power in the bloodless 2003 "Rose Revolution".
In April 2018, senior MP Gedevan Popkhadze threatened to quit the party for its endorsement of an opposition-nominated candidate, journalist Ninia Kakabadze to the supervisory board of the Georgian Public Broadcaster.[19] Popkhadze criticized Kakabadze for being anti-religious. The incident is seen as an internal conflict between long-time GD members which joined the party while it was in opposition and a new group of members who were installed in high positions prior to the 2016 parliamentary elections. The news agency Democracy and Freedom Watch related the incident to the return of Bidzina Ivanishvili as chairman of the party later that month, which furthermore was perceived as a move to maintain the unity of the coalition.[20]
In August 2018, Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the party would not nominate a candidate for the 2018 presidential elections. Instead it would support the independent candidate Salome Zourabichvili.[21]
Post-2019 dissension in the party
In late 2019, Facebook publicly announced that it had removed from Facebook and Instagram a number of accounts and pages engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior that sought to promote the Georgian Dream government.[22] Analysts said that although Georgian Dream suffered a dip in popularity in the aftermath of the 2019 Georgian protests,[23][24][25][26] its relatively successful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a boost in popularity, which helped it to secure victory in the 2020 parliamentary election. However, accusations of electoral fraud by the Georgian opposition subsequently led to the six-month political crisis in Georgia.[27]
On 11 January 2021, shortly after the election, Ivanishvili announced that he was decisively leaving politics and resigned as Chairman of Georgian Dream, stating that "he had accomplished his goal". Irakli Kobakhidze was elected as a new chairman of the party.[28]
In February 2021, the Georgian Dream underwent split following Giorgi Gakharia's unexpected resignation from the post of Prime Minister of Georgia. Gakharia cited disagreement with his party colleagues over enforcing an arrest order for Nika Melia, who was sent to pre-trial detention by the Court after he declined to pay bail. Melia, chairman of the opposition United National Movement party, was accused of organizing mass violence during the anti-government protests in 2019. Although Gakharia agreed that Melia's prosecution was lawful, he wanted to postpone Melia's arrest to avoid further political tensions between the government and the opposition. Gakharia also said that he no longer agreed with the positions of the Georgian Dream and he therefore was leaving the party.[29] Several MPs from Georgian Dream joined him to form a new party For Georgia.[30] The Georgian Dream party supported Irakli Garibashvili to replace Gakharia, and the Parliament voted 89–2 to appoint him as the next prime minister. Garibashvili had an earlier term as prime minister in 2013–2015.
2021 election victory
Even though the government and the opposition worked to bring an end to the political crisis in April 2021, tensions remained high. In tense 2021 Georgian local elections, the Georgian Dream managed to secure victory, gaining 46.75% of the vote. The mayoral candidates of the Georgian Dream won in all municipalities except Tsalenjikha. However, the party lost majority in seven out of 64 municipal assemblies.[31]
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Georgian Dream government provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and sheltered Ukrainian refugees, while supporting Ukraine at diplomatic forums. It did not join financial and economic sanctions imposed on Russia by several Western countries and did not provide military assistance to Ukraine. Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of Foreign Relations Committee of Georgian Parliament in interview to Vice stated that "Georgia is the most exposed country in the world to the Russian aggression. The Russian troops are stationed 30 kilometers away from where we are sitting right now, from the heart of the Tbilisi. So, in this circumstances, I think Georgia is punching above its weight when it supports Ukraine at diplomatic forum, politically and also in humanitarian dimension".
On 25 February 2022, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that Georgia would not join sanctions against Russia due to pragmatic considerations, as doing so would hurt the country's economy and might lead to escalation and war with Russia. The relations with the political leadership of the European Union worsened in the following months. In June 2022, the European Parliament adopted a six-page resolution calling the European Council to impose personal sanctions on the founder of the Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili, accusing him of "determining the position of the current Government of Georgia towards sanctions on Russia". In August 2022, several MPs left Georgian Dream to establish the People's Power movement, with a goal of speaking more openly about the European Union's involvement in the Georgian politics. The movement accused the European Union and the United States of America of violating Georgia's sovereignty and pressuring Georgia to open "second front" against Russia. According to the movement, a number of Georgian political parties (including the largest opposition party, United National Movement) and NGOs are "American agents" who work to overthrow the Government of Georgia and drag the country into the Russo-Ukrainian War.
October 2022 loss of majority
In October 2022, Georgian Dream lost its parliamentary majority as a result of defections. People's Power said that it would still support the government, while the Georgian Dream chairperson Irakli Kobakhidze pledged to cooperate with People's Power on key issues.[32][33][34]
In March 2023, Georgian Dream supported a draft foreign agent law presented by the People's Power movement, which would have labeled civil society and media organizations which receive more than 20% of their total revenue from abroad as "foreign agents". The draft law was criticized by the US State Department, United Nations and European Union. The proposed law led to the 2023 Georgian protests. Parliament suspended further discussions of the bill in response to the protests.[35]
On 11 May 2023, GD announced it was disaffiliating from the Party of European Socialists, pre-empting possible expulsion. The controversy followed the participation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in the Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary, which was criticized by PES.[36] Explaining its decision, Georgian Dream argued that while it stays committed to social democracy, the Party of European Socialist is allegedly moving away from "classical social-democratic ideology and switching to a pseudo-liberal platform".[37]
On 30 December 2023, Bidzina Ivanishvili declared his return to frontline politics after a hiatus, strategically timed before the 2024 parliamentary elections. Ivanishvili made a speech in which he described the geopolitical situation as "complicated" and criticized the opposition for its perceived failure in holding the government accountable; he cited these as reasons for his comeback.[38]
Change of leadership
On 29 January 2024, Garibashvili announced his resignation as Prime Minister, citing the importance of internal inter-party democracy and the need to "give others a chance." The announcement was made during a special briefing at the Government Administration, where Garibashvili confirmed his acceptance of an offer to become the Chair of the Georgian Dream party. Expressing gratitude to various party members and government officials, including founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, Garibashvili acknowledged their support during his term as Prime Minister.[39] Kobakhidze replaced him as prime minister.
In March 2024 Georgian Dream proposed a constitutional amendment to "protect family values and minors" and to allow marriage only of "a union of a single genetic male and a single genetic female." It would prohibit "gender transition", same-sex marriages and the adoption of children by same-sex couples.[40]
Ideology
Like many parties of power, Georgian Dream lacks a clear ideology. The reasons that were given for this range from the party's history as an all-encompassing front of diverse parties opposed to the United National Movement government to the standard opportunism associated with such parties. Levan Lortkipanidze, a political science student at Tbilisi State University, described it as "a party of nomenclature, public servants, 'intelligentsia', medium and large businessmen, and technocrats – a party, which is held together through loyalty to its charismatic leader and the opposition to the government of the 'Rose Revolution.'"[41]
The party has at times self-identified as social democratic. According to the Georgian Institute of Politics, Georgian Dream's economic policy comprises a combination of the pre-existing free market model, created by their predecessors, with a comprehensive social safety net.[42] Its social democratic policies include the introduction of universal healthcare system and a new labour code. However, the party has also professed commitment to "economic openness" and "market-driven growth", implementing both social democratic and neoliberal policies. Due to this, it has been reported that a number of left-wing activists view the party as "ideologically amorphous".[43] However, Le Monde, The Guardian and Europe Elects described the party as centre-left.[44][45][46]
In 2017, the Georgian Dream-led parliament implemented a major constitutional reform. A new constitution made Georgia a parliamentary republic, transitioned Georgia's parliamentary elections to a fully proportional system by 2024 and abolished direct presidential elections. It also contained a number of ideologically diverse provisions. The new amendments adopted several national conservative articles, including a ban on the purchase of agricultural land by foreign nationals and a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.[47] They also adopted several social democratic articles, such as a new article about "social state", which enshrined a number of socio-economic rights in matters of health care, education, employment, and social security. The article also postulated that "the state should take care of strengthening social justice, social equality and social solidarity in the society".[48] The Georgian Dream deputies also supported removing from the constitution a ban on progressive taxes and a requirement to hold referenda to raise corporate and income tax rates, provisions implemented by the former governing United National Movement party of Mikheil Saakashvili. This proposal caused protests from the opposition and as a compromise solution it was announced that the ban would remain in place until 2029.[49] According to professor David Zedelashvili, the leftist groups gave the most support to the Georgian Dream constitutional commission and got the most concessions.[50]
The 2021 study by the Georgian Institute of Politics described the Georgian Dream party as having "rather conservative cultural values along with progressive green values".[51] In 2014, the party passed legislation against discrimination toward LGBT individuals, making Georgia the most LGBT-friendly country in the South Caucasus de jure.[52] At the same time the party's majority opposed same-sex marriage in Georgia and amended the constitution to define marriage as "a union between a woman and a man for the purpose of creating a family."[53] In 2021, the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili argued against holding the gay parade in Tbilisi, saying that it is against Georgia's predominant Christian traditions and conservative values. Garibashvili also denounced discrimination against LGBT individuals and praised his government for adopting the anti-discrimination law, while noting that "propagandistic parades" only increase discrimination.[54][55] In 2023, the party has denounced "LGBT propaganda among children" and blamed it for increasing number of people who identify as LGBT in the Western countries.[56] Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that the "imposition of LGBT values" is the "violence of the minority over the majority", adding that "as we protect the rights of the minority, just like that we will also protect the rights of the majority".[57][58] In the words of the party's parliamentary speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, "We rest on values such as democracy, rule of law, human rights protection, justice, equality and tolerance, but at the same time, pseudo-liberalism and the forces, which are challenging our national identity, traditions and the Georgian churches, as well as the forces, which are challenging the very same values in the U.S., are unacceptable."[59]
The party supports increasing women's representation in politics and voted in favor of amendments to Georgia's Election Code which introduced gender quotas in Georgia, requiring political parties which participate in elections to include women in every fourth position on their party lists.[60] In 2017, the party voted in favor of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Georgia.
The party advocates banning old cars for their high levels of carbon emissions and introducing a corporate green tax for businesses that cause environmental pollution.[61]
The biggest rival party is the United National Movement of Mikheil Saakashvili. Therefore, the party's ideology is focused on opposing the UNM and Saakashvili. In this context, political debates often focus on relations with Russia, with both parties accusing each other of 'playing into Moscow's hands'. Social issues are mostly absent from political speeches and debates.[62]
Foreign policy
In the field of foreign policy and security, the Georgian Dream supports the European integration,[63][64] while also taking pragmatic approach to Russia. In December 2020, the Parliament of Georgia, attended only by the representatives of the "Georgian Dream", adopted a resolution declaring integration into the EU and NATO as Georgia's priorities "without alternative". The resolution also talks about strengthening the partnership with the UK, France, the Baltic countries and the Visegrad Group.[65] The document points at the "pragmatic and principled" policy towards Russia.[66] Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that "pragmatic policy with Russia is aimed at avoiding harm to Georgia, its citizens".[67] During the 2012 Georgian parliamentary election campaign the party vowed to restore economic relations with Russia hampered by the 2006 Russian ban of Moldovan and Georgian wines, citing the importance of Russian market for Georgian citizens working in wine industry (Russia was responsible for 80-90% of the total wine exports in Georgia before the ban). At the same time, the party opposed restoring the diplomatic and political ties with Russia until the disputes with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia were solved. The party considers that these conflicts should be solved only through negotiations.[68]
Regarding the Russo-Ukrainian War, the party supported imposing sanctions on Russian-annexed Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014. This measure mirrored Ukraine's restrictions on trade and financial transactions with Georgia's breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and was meant to signal Georgia's support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.[69] However, the party did not join Ukraine and Western countries in imposing wide-ranging sanctions on Russia to avoid possible confrontation.[70] Amid the 2022 escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the party supported imposing sanctions on Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.[71] However, the party ruled out imposing any economic sanctions against Russia and providing military aid to Ukraine, citing potential harm to Georgian economy and absence of any security guarantees in case of confrontation with Russia.[72] Prime Minister Garibashvili also recalled the Russia-Georgia war in 2008 and stressed that no sanctions had been imposed by the Western countries on Russia following its invasion.[73] The party vowed to support Ukraine at diplomatic arena, voting in favor of pro-Ukraine resolutions.[74]
Under the leadership of Georgian Dream, Georgia has signed an Association Agreement and a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. In 2013, the party ruled out joining Eurasian Economic Union, instead opting to deepen cooperation with the European Union. In 2015, Georgia fullfiled all the conditions for its citizens be granted visa-free travel to the Schengen area, with the European Council and the European Parliament giving their approval in 2017. At the same time, the GD-led parliament enshrined pro-EU and pro-NATO foreign policy in the constitution. In January 2021, Georgia was preparing to formally apply for EU membership in 2024.[75][76] However, on 3 March 2022, Georgia submitted its membership application ahead of schedule, following the 2022 escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war.[77]
In April 2024, the party introduced a bill that would oblige organisations and institutions receiving funding from other countries to identify themselves as "carrying out the interests of a foreign power". The party already introduced this bill in March 2023, but abandoned it in face of public disapproval and protests against the law. Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, condemned the bill, calling it "incompatible with EU values and standards" and arguing that it "goes against Georgia’s stated objective of joining the EU."[78] The reintroduction of the bill by the party sparked pro-EU protests in the country, with protesters arguing that the new law risks derailing the Georgian open accession talks with the European Union. Political commentators also noted that while the Georgian Dream wishes to pursue balanced relations between the European Union as well as Russia, its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili is considered to have close ties with the Russian government.[79] Eurasianet accused the party of alienating the European Union and "pivoting away from the West and drifting back into Russia’s geopolitical orbit".[80] By the end of April, the protests escalated, and a "March for Europe" attended by about 20,000 people took place in Tbilisi on 28 April 2024. The march resulted in clashes with the police and arrests.[81]
Georgian Dream coalition
Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia was the leading member of the Georgian Dream Coalition, which initially included six political parties of diverse ideological orientations.[82][83] The coalition was made up of parties ranging from pro-market and pro-western liberals to nationalists and protectionists, united in their dislike of Saakashvili and the United National Movement.[84][85] The name of the alliance is inspired by a rap song by Ivanishvili's son Bera.[86][87]
Former constituent parties
- Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia
- Green Party of Georgia (left the coalition before the 2020 parliamentary election)
- Our Georgia – Free Democrats (left the coalition and became an opposition party on 5 November 2014)
- National Forum (left the coalition after party convention where majority of party members voted to leave on 3 April 2016)
- Republican Party of Georgia (left the coalition in March 2016)
- Industry Will Save Georgia (left the coalition before the 2016 election)
- Social Democrats for the Development of Georgia (members left in February and March 2019 due to problems concerning the Judiciary and Pension system)
- Conservative Party of Georgia (left over the 2019 Georgian protests)
Electoral performance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Georgian_Dream_electoral_billboard%2C_Tbilisi%2C_August_2016.jpg/220px-Georgian_Dream_electoral_billboard%2C_Tbilisi%2C_August_2016.jpg)
Parliamentary
Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Status |
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2012[a] | Bidzina Ivanishvili | 1,184,612 | 54.97 | 85 / 150
|
new | 1st | Government |
2016 | Giorgi Kvirikashvili | 857,394 | 48.65 | 115 / 150
|
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Government |
2020 | Giorgi Gakharia | 928,004 | 48.22 | 90 / 150
|
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Government |
Presidential
Election year | Candidate | Results | |
---|---|---|---|
# of overall votes | % of overall vote | ||
2013 | Giorgi Margvelashvili | 1,012,569 | 62.12 (#1) |
2018 | endorsed Salome Zourabichvili |
Local
Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 719 431 | 50.82 | 1,370 / 2,088
|
new | 1st |
2017 | 838 154 | 55.81 | 1,610 / 2,058
|
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2021 | 824 755 | 46.75 | 1,358 / 2,068
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Presidents of Georgia from Georgian Dream
Name | From | To |
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Giorgi Margvelashvili | 17 November 2013 | 16 December 2018 |
Prime Ministers of Georgia from Georgian Dream
Name | From | To |
---|---|---|
Bidzina Ivanishvili | 25 October 2012 | 20 November 2013 |
Irakli Gharibashvili | 20 November 2013 | 30 December 2015 |
Giorgi Kvirikashvili | 30 December 2015 | 13 June 2018 |
Mamuka Bakhtadze | 20 June 2018 | 2 September 2019 |
Giorgi Gakharia | 8 September 2019 | 18 February 2021 |
Irakli Gharibashvili | 22 February 2021 | 29 January 2024 |
Irakli Kobakhidze | 8 February 2024 | Present |
Leadership
The party is led by the Chair, who is the leader of the party's political council. The current chairman is Irakli Garibashvili.
Party chairs
- Bidzina Ivanishvili (2012–2013)
- Irakli Garibashvili (2013–2015)
- Giorgi Kvirikashvili (2015–2018)
- Bidzina Ivanishvili (2018–2021)
- Irakli Kobakhidze (2021–2024)
- Irakli Garibashvili (2024-present)
Notable people
- Paata Mkheidze (2016–2020), deputy of the Parliament of Georgia, constituency No. 29[88]
Notes
- ^ As part of Georgian Dream coalition
References
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{{cite news}}
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- ^ Ritchie, Rhea Mogul,Sophie Tanno,Niamh Kennedy,Hannah (9 March 2023). "Georgia withdraws 'foreign influence' bill but opposition vows more protests". CNN.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Georgian Dream to leave the Party of European Socialists". Georgia Today. 14 May 2023.
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Despite the court ruling Girchi still faces stiff opposition, not only from the ruling centre-left Georgian Dream coalition, which vehemently contests liberal ideas, but also the Orthodox church.
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Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the governing centre-left Georgian Dream.
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Irakli Alasania's Our Georgia Free Democrats (OGFD) and the Republican Party, led by brothers David and Levan Berdzenishvili and the husband-and-wife team of Davit Usupashvili and Tina Khidasheli, are two prominent, liberal parties in the coalition with a strong, pro-Western foreign policy orientation. Other members include the nationalist Conservative Party, led by Zviad Dzidziguri, a loyalist of former President Zviad Gamsakhurdia; the National Forum (NF), which includes former high-ranking Shevardnadzeera bureaucrats; and the Industrialists. These parties are united in their dislike of Saakashvili and the UNM and have limited political prospects individually.
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External links
- 2012 establishments in Georgia (country)
- Russophilic parties
- Centre-left parties in Georgia (country)
- Eurosceptic parties
- Parties related to the Party of European Socialists
- Political parties established in 2012
- Political parties in Georgia (country)
- Progressive Alliance
- Social democratic parties in Georgia (country)