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Georgian Dream

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Georgian Dream –
Democratic Georgia
ქართული ოცნება –
დემოკრატიული საქართველო
ChairmanIrakli Garibashvili
Secretary-GeneralKakha Kaladze
Honorary ChairmanBidzina Ivanishvili
Executive SecretaryMamuka Mdinaradze
Political SecretaryIrakli Kobakhidze
Regional SecretaryDimitri Samkharadze
Relations with Political Parties SecretaryGia Volski
FounderBidzina Ivanishvili
Founded21 April 2012; 12 years ago (2012-04-21)
Ideology
Political position
European affiliationParty of European Socialists (observer) (2015–2023)[17]
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
(until 2023)
Colors  Blue and   Amber
Sloganთავისუფლება, სწრაფი განვითარება, კეთილდღეობა ('Freedom, Rapid Development, Welfare')
Seats In Parliament
74 / 150
Municipal Councilors
1,333 / 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
16 / 35
Municipal Mayors
63 / 64
Website
gd.ge

Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (Georgian: ქართული ოცნება – დემოკრატიული საქართველო, romanized: kartuli otsneba – demok'rat'iuli sakartvelo) also colloquially known as the Kotsebi[a] is a political party in Georgia. The party was established on 19 April 2012 by billionaire businessman and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.[18] It has been the ruling party in Georgia since 2012, when it won the general election, leading a coalition of six parties.

Subsequently, Georgian Dream also won the general elections of 2016 and 2020. The party has been chaired by Irakli Garibashvili since 2024, while founder Bidzina Ivanishvili is the Honorary Chairman. Former party chair Irakli Kobakhidze has been Prime Minister since February 2024.

Georgian Dream has declared itself a center-left pro-European party, pursuing Euro-Atlantic integration and carrying a mix of center-left and center-right economic policies. However, the party over time transformed into an explicitly culturally conservative soft Eurosceptic party. The main criticism labeled against Georgian Dream has always been its alleged pro-Russia policy, a characterization that the party fiercely denies.[b]

Recently, the party passed legislation considered by the United States and European Union to be contradictory to the country's EU and NATO membership bids. In June 2024 United States sanctioned Georgian Dream officials for "undermining democracy".[19] According to the party itself, it plans to make Georgia part of the EU whilst "playing by Georgian rules".[c]

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Georgian Dream has been associated with the dissemination of disinformation and conspiracy theories, including claims about a so-called "Global war party".[26]

History

Political Context

By 2011, the United National Movement government led by the President Mikheil Saakashvili, had become increasingly unpopular during its rule since 2004 for its neoliberal economic policy, extremely punitive criminal justice system and confrontational approach to Russia. A range of other infringements on privacy and legal rights in combination with intimidation and coercion of the business sector added to the grievances.[27]

The violent dispersal of 2007 and 2011 demonstrations, scandals such as the 2006 Sandro Girgvliani murder case and the loss of territories through the 2008 Russo-Georgian War contributed to the party's increasing loss of support among the general populace. Given this context, Bidzina Ivanishvili, an oligarch primarily known for charity and contributions to public projects, decided to step out of the shadow and lead the political opposition against Saakashvili by uniting the opposition, mobilizing popular support and subsequently capitalizing on the public discontent.

Foundation

Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and since 2023 the Honorary Chairman of Georgian Dream

In December 2011, Ivanishvili launched Georgian Dream movement as a platform for his political activities and staged several mass demonstrations against the Saakashvili government. Four months later, on 21 April 2012, Georgian Dream was launched as a political party. Since Ivanishvili was not a Georgian citizen at the moment of the party's inaugural session, lawyer Manana Kobakhidze was elected as an interim, nominal chairman of "Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia", the full name of the party.[28]

The party also included several notable Georgians such as former diplomat Tedo Japaridze, chess grandmaster Zurab Azmaiparashvili, writer Guram Odisharia and famed footballer Kakha Kaladze, which helped the party to consolidate support.[29] The name of the party was inspired by a rap song of Ivanishvili's son Bera.[30]

On 21 February 2012, Ivanishvili announced the formation of a coalition centered around his party, together with Republican Party of Georgia, Our Georgia – Free Democrats, and National Forum, pledging to increase welfare spending and to pursue a more pragmatic approach with Russia while maintaining a pro-Western and pro-NATO foreign policy.[31][32] In subsequent months, two other opposition parties joined the coalition: the Conservative Party of Georgia and Industry Will Save Georgia.[33]

First term: coalition rule (2012-2016)

See also: 2012 Georgian parliamentary election

The six-party Georgian Dream coalition led by Ivanishvili successfully challenged the ruling United National Movement in the 2012 parliamentary election.[29][34] It won 54.97% of the vote, while UNM received 40.34%, granting GD a majority of 85 seats in parliament. The remaining 65 seats went to UNM.[35] President Mikheil Saakashvili conceded that his party lost and pledged to support the constitutional process of forming a new government.[36] This was the first democratic transfer of power in Georgia. The election also marked the beginning of the transition from a presidential system to a parliamentary system of government.

Giorgi Margvelashvili and Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2013

On 25 October 2012, Bidzina Ivanishvili was elected as the prime minister of Georgia. He had requested Saakashvili to step down as president,[37] but the latter decided to complete his final term, which meant an uneasy political cohabitation throughout 2013. The new government introduced the State Universal Healthcare Program, making emergency surgeries and childbirth free of charge, increased welfare spending, and initiated reforms on self-governance, law enforcement agencies, and agriculture.[38][39]

In October 2013, Georgian Dream nominated candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili won the presidential election in a single round with 61.1% of the vote. Having looked over the transfer of power, Ivanishvili stepped down as prime minister, formally quitting the political arena, while running the government from behind the scenes.[40]

PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili with State Secretary John Kerry in Tbilisi

Ivanishvili was succeeded by Irakli Garibashvili, under whose tenure Georgia made major steps towards European Union integration. In June 2014 Georgia signed the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, both of which were initiated under the Saakashvili-led government. Meanwhile, cracks appeared within the Georgian Dream coalition. Free Democrats left the coalition in November 2014 when Defence Minister Irakli Alasania, a member of the party, was fired by Garibashvili.[41] Soon after becoming president, Margvelashvili's relations with the parliamentary wing of the party became strained as he was critical of what he saw as Georgian Dream's consolidation of power.[42] He was the first president in Georgia's history not to seek reelection for a second term.[43]

Prime Minister Garibashvili was succeeded in December 2015 by Giorgi Kvirikashvili, whose government focused on economic growth as well as strengthening relations with the West.[44] The European Commission recommended visa-free travel for the citizens of Georgia to the Schengen Area, with the European Council and the European Parliament giving the final approval in 2017.[45][46]

Second term: absolute majority (2016-2020)

See also: 2016 Georgian parliamentary election

Despite the coalition falling apart, Kvirikashvili led Georgian Dream to a landslide victory in the 2016 Georgian parliamentary election, winning a constitutional majority of 115 seats out of 150. Utilizing their parliamentary power, Georgian Dream made grand amendments to the constitution, like the completion of the transition to a parliamentary republic and the abolition of the direct presidential election.[47]

President Zourabichvili in 2019

In April 2018, Ivanishvili returned to politics when he was appointed the chair of the Georgian Dream party. His comeback was taken for granted as he had retained overwhelming sway over the party ever since his formal resignation in 2013.[48] Prime Minister Kvirikashvili suddenly resigned in June 2018, claiming "disagreements with the leader of the ruling party" as the reason for his resignation.[49] He was succeeded by a political newcomer Mamuka Bakhtadze.[50]

In August 2018, the Chairman of the Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the party would not nominate a candidate for the 2018 presidential elections. Instead, it would endorse the independent candidate Salome Zourabichvili.[51] After a stronger than expected performance from the opposition in the first round, Bidzina Ivanishvili put together a scheme in which the debts of 600,000 Georgians would be written-off and covered by his charity, in an attempt to secure Zourabichvili’s victory. It was considered "an unprecedented case of vote-bribing".[52] The government supported scheme was enough to boost Georgian Dream's popularity and give Zourabichvili a victory in the second round.

Gavrilov's Night

Main article: 2019 protests in Georgia (country)

The summer of 2019 set off a prolonged period of political unrest and civil discontent with Georgian Dream's rule. On 20 June 2019, Parliament of Georgia hosted the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, an organization set up by the Greek parliament to unite Orthodox Christian lawmakers worldwide. With both Russia and Georgia being members of the organization, the Russian delegation arrived to take part in the session in the Georgian parliament. The session was opened with a speech from Sergei Gavrilov, a Russian lawmaker from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, whilst sitting in the chair of the Head of Parliament.[53]

Gavrilov's Night protests, day 2

Opposition members said it was denigrating of Georgian sovereignty and completely unacceptable that Gavrilov presided over a session in Georgian parliament, as a representative of the occupying power with a history of casting anti-Georgia votes.[54] The opposition called for protests in front of the parliament building. Some representatives of Georgian Dream said the action of Gavrilov was a provocation and claimed the session should have been chaired by the Greek deputy Anastasios Nerantzis. Gavrilov however, insisted he was instructed by the protocol service of Georgian parliament.[55][56]

PM Mamuka Bakhtadze in 2019

That same day, a large protest took place in front of Parliament, which was violently dispersed by the orders of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia. It became known as Gavrilov's Night. Georgian Dream leader Ivanishvili said the protest was legitimate, but the situation was exploited by the opposition parties to storm the parliament building, thus the police measures were necessary to prevent a coup.[57] The protests continued for months, demanding electoral reforms, snap elections, and resignations from the ruling party. Despite some concessions from Georgian Dream, such as the resignation of the chairman of parliament and the partial electoral amendments, the protests did not stop.

On 2 September 2019, Bakhtadze resigned from his position as prime minister. In a letter he published on Facebook, he stated that he "decided to resign because I believe I have fulfilled my mission at this point".[58] Bidzina Ivanishvili personally nominated Gakharia as his replacement, praising him for his ability to manage crises. The opposition boycotted Gakharia's confirmation vote.[59]

Third term: Tensions with the West (2020-present)

See also: 2020 Georgian parliamentary election
File:Gaxaria 1 12 04 18.webp
PM Gakharia in 2020

Prime Minister Gakharia presided over the government's initially swift handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. It helped the party regain the support it had lost in the aftermath of the Gavrilov's Night scandal. Georgian Dream was able to re-create its 2016 performance in the popular vote but lost 25 seats under the amended electoral system. The number of single-mandate majoritarian districts was reduced and the threshold was lowered from 5% to 1%, to create a more proportional system, an internationally mediated compromise as a result of the protests.[60] The opposition decried the results as illegitimate and responded by organizing protests and refusing to participate in the new parliament.[61]

The OSCE-ODIHR election observation mission in its preliminary conclusions noted that the elections "were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected", but it also said that the "pervasive allegations of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the state reduced public confidence in some aspects of the process".[62] On 11 January 2021, amidst the 2020–2021 Georgian political crisis, Ivanishvili announced that he was decisively leaving politics and resigned as Chairman of Georgian Dream, stating that "he had accomplished his goal".[63]

Garibashvili's return

Irakli Gharibashvili in 2021

Gakharia resigned as Prime Minister in February 2021, citing his opposition to the court-ordered arrest of his political rival UNM leader Nika Melia on charges of organizing violence in the 2019 protests. He announced his departure from Georgian Dream, stating that he no longer agreed with the positions of the party. Garibashvili was selected as his successor, heading the Second Garibashvili government, who immediately ordered the arrest of Melia.[64] Several MPs from Georgian Dream joined him to form the new For Georgia party.[65]

On 19 April 2021, Georgian Dream and the opposition signed an agreement mediated by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, which ended the six-month political crisis that stemmed from the contested 2020 parliamentary election. The agreement stipulated snap parliamentary elections if Georgian Dream would garner less than 43% of the vote in the October 2021 local elections. Most parties signed the agreement and most of the elected opposition MPs took up their parliamentary mandates which they had refused until then. However, the largest opposition party United National Movement refused to join the agreement, which led Georgian Dream to withdraw from the agreement two months before the 2021 local elections. According to the head of the Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze, the agreement "failed to accomplish its goals" because UNM refused to join it.[66][67]

Georgian Dream managed to secure victory in the 2021 local elections, gaining 46.75% of the vote. The mayoral candidates from Georgian Dream won in all municipalities except Tsalenjikha. However, the party lost its majority in 7 out of 64 municipal assemblies.[68]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Georgian Dream Faction in Georgian Parliament after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Georgian Dream aided Ukraine by providing humanitarian assistance and sheltering refugees, while also consistently supporting it at the diplomatic level.[69][70] As such, 245,000 refugees from Ukraine have crossed into Georgia, primarily from the heavily war-affected areas in the Eastern Ukraine.[71] The Georgian government responded by providing temporary accommodation and access to healthcare and education.[72] However, it did not join economic sanctions imposed on Russia by several Western countries and refused to provide military assistance to Ukraine.[73] Prime Minister Garibashvili argued in 2023 that sanctioning Russia would harm Georgia more than Russia, due to its dependence on Russian trade rather than vice versa.[d][74] He also accused the West of double standards, as it did not impose sanctions in 2008 when Georgia was invaded by Russia, and continuing "business as usual".[75]

The priorities of the Georgian Dream government vis-a-vis Russia by not sanctioning it, resulted in increased trade between the two countries. Exports to Russia rose by 7% in 2022 while imports increased by 79%, making Georgia economically more reliant on Russia, as opposed to the trade between the EU and Russia, which decreased to a third of its original volume, with Russia's share in the EU's imports having fallen from 9.5% to 1.7%.[76][77] Additionally, the trade between Georgian and Russia grew rapidly in 2023 as well.[78] While Georgia did not take part in the economic sanctions against Russia, it initially did "act fully in accordance with the financial sanctions" imposed by the United States and others.[79] In 2024 reports surfaced however that the National Bank of Georgia was facilitating Russian importers to avoid Western financial sanctions by settling accounts in rubles.[78]

Russia abolished the visa regime for Georgians in May 2023 and lifted flight sanctions that were in place since July 2019.[80] Direct flights resumed within a few weeks, despite European and American objections.[81] Georgian Dream officials strongly defended the resumption of flights "as a step in the interests of the Georgian state and people".[82] The US ambassador to Georgia said the step undermined European sanctions and travel restrictions against Russia, by providing a "gateway for Russians to flood Europe".[83]

EU candidacy

Georgian Dream celebrating the EU candidate status, 15 December 2023

During the campaign of the 2020 elections, Georgian Dream committed itself to applying for Georgian membership of the European Union in 2024. When Ukraine announced the application for EU membership four days after the start of the Russian invasion, Georgian opposition politicians called to do the same.[84] However, Georgian Dream reacted reluctantly, saying that not all commitments to apply had been fulfilled yet, and that Ukraine's case was rather a "political gesture" by the European Union amid the Ukraine war, a case that would not have applied to Georgia as it was not in the war. Thus, the party initially said that it would stick to its original schedule.[85] Nonetheless, it soon yielded to the pressure from the public and announced on 2 March 2022 to apply for EU membership, citing "the changed situation in the world".[86][87]

The relations with the EU soon deteriorated, a process that had already started when Garibashvili returned as Prime Minister in 2021. On 9 June 2022, the European Parliament adopted a six-page resolution that accused the government of Georgia of eroding press freedom in the country. It also recommended the European Council to sanction the founder of the Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili for "his role in the deterioration of the political process in Georgia", the "level of control he exerts over the government and its decisions, including those on the politically motivated persecution of journalists and political opponents", and his "exposed personal and business links to the Kremlin, which determine the position of the current Government of Georgia towards sanctions on Russia".[88] In the same month, the European Union granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, but postponed it for Georgia, citing the need for reforms by the ruling party.[89]

In the second half of her tenure, President Zourabichvili became increasingly alienated from Georgian Dream, as she criticized the government for what she described as the lack of commitment to the EU candidacy and limited policy towards Ukraine. In response, the government of PM Garibashvili denounced the President on a few occasions for traveling abroad where she planned to visit Brussels and Paris without government authorization.[90] In the fall of 2023 Georgian Dream alleged Zourabichvili had violated the Constitution with these actions, but ultimately failed to impeach her due to lack of parliamentary support from the opposition.[91][92]

In December 2023, the EU granted Georgia candidate status and it first and foremost congratulated the Georgian people instead of the government.[93] Nevertheless, the Georgian Dream government had only fulfilled 3 out of the 12 priorities it got from the EU to earn the candidate status.[citation needed]

On 30 December 2023 Bidzina Ivanishvili declared his return to politics.[94] A month later, Garibashvili announced his resignation as Prime Minister, citing the importance of inter-party democracy and the need to "give others a chance". Garibashvili became the Chairman of the Georgian Dream party, while Irakli Kobakhidze replaced him as Prime Minister.[95]

"Global War Party"

Main article: Global War Party
Irakli Kobakhidze who has frequently advanced the "Global War Party" conspiracy theory

Shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, several Ukrainian officials made remarks suggesting Georgia and Moldova to open a "second front" against Russia.[96][97] Georgian Dream officials have heavily criticized those remarks, stating that a war with Russia would cause significant harm to Georgia.[98] Georgian Dream MP Gia Volski called on the EU and US to "distance themselves" from statements from some Ukrainian officials to "see Georgia engage in war".[99]

Soon after, Georgian Dream's rhetoric turned conspiratorial accusing the so-called "Global War Party" of being behind such calls with which several pro-Western opposition parties are allegedly affiliated.[100][101] The term has been used by the Georgian Dream, People's Power and affiliated analysts to refer to the American military-industrial complex, George Soros and neoconservatives.[102][103] The party has recently expanded the conspiracy theory to accuse the alleged organization of being behind the attempted assassination of Robert Fico and Donald Trump.[104][105][106] Kobakhidze has further alleged threats on his life as well as a plot to topple his government.[107][108] The Western officials has dismissed the government's claims, with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O'Brien referring to it as "Reddit page coming to life".[109]

Meanwhile, in 2022 a total of nine MPs left the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction to establish People's Power party. The MPs maintained their support for the government and are a part of the parliamentary majority. They explain their reasons for leaving as not being given the freedom to speak "the truth about the West" and its officials. The MPs expressed strong anti-western sentiments and spread conspiracy theories such as that in exchange for EU candidate status, the West ordered Georgia to partially give up its sovereignty and go to war with Russia.[110]

Foreign Agent law

Main article: 2023–2024 Georgian protests
Protest held on 8 March 2023

In March 2023, Georgian Dream supported the drafting of a so-called law on 'foreign agents' which was presented by the People's Power party. Supporters of the bill have argued that it is needed to prevent foreign influence in Georgian politics and uphold the country's sovereignty.[111] The law would label civil society and media organizations which receive more than 20% of their total funding from abroad as "foreign agents", similar to legislation introduced in Russia in 2012. Subsequently, it was denounced as a "Russian law" by the Georgian opposition and civil society. The proposed law was also criticized by the US State Department, the United Nations, and the European Union as it would stigmatize civil society and independent media organizations.[112] Major protests in March 2023 after forced Georgian Dream to pull its hands from the bill, promising they would not attempt to revive the legislation.[113] However, the promise was short-lived as Georgian Dream reintroduced and passed the 'foreign agent' bill in the period April-May 2024.[114]

Standoff with the riot police during a Protest held on 30 April 2024

The step triggered the largest protests in Georgia's post-independence history as well as widespread condemnation from Western officials, with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen writing "the law on foreign influence transparency goes against core principles & values of the EU", the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell called the bill "incompatible with EU values and standards" and Danish Foreign Ministry bluntly stating "Georgia will not advance on the path to EU membership".[115][116] Afterwards, President Salome Zourabichvili referred to the ruling party as the "Russian Dream".[117]

The government has been widely condemned for the use of excessive and disproportionate force when dispersing protests.[118][119] Riot police has been accused of consistent use of violence and torture against protestors as well as opposition political figures, including UNM Chair Levan Khabeishvili as well as the Citizens chair Aleko Elisashvili.[120][121][122][123] Even though the law enforcement has claimed to have opened a case into the claims of the use of excessive force, no police officer has been charged yet.[120] Furthermore, Prime Minister Kobakhidze has thanked Georgian police for handling protests with “higher standards” than in Europe or the United States. He did however single out “a few isolated incidents".[124]

Georgian Dream has been accused of deploying what its critics are calling Titushkys. The so-called Titushkys have taken part in mass beatings of opposition, civil society, and protestors,[125][126][127][128] damaging and defacing the opposition parties and NGO’s offices,[129][130] and disrupting public events organized by the opposition.[131] The opposition has accused the government of being directly involved in the violence, a claim that was virtually admitted by the Georgian Dream lawmaker Dito Samkharadze.[132][133][130] While investigations have started no charges have been given out.[134][135]

Sanctions against Georgian Dream

United States Senate considered in May 2024 a bipartisan Georgia sanctions bill that would target the Georgian Dream lawmakers, their families, and others who “have material responsibility for undermining or injuring democracy, human rights, or security in Georgia".[136] Similar sanctions as well as suspension of visa-free travel for the country have been pushed by several EU countries.[137] Mamuka Mdinaradze, the parliamentary majority leader, has stated that threatening Georgian officials with sanctions over passing legislation is unacceptable and instead asked the US to take steps that will strengthen Georgia-US partnership, like the introduction of free economic relations, visa liberalization, and direct flights with Georgia.[138] The party has accused the United States of conducting a "policy of blackmail, intimidation".[139]

On 6 June the United States announced sanctions against Members of the Georgian Dream party, members of Parliament, law enforcement, private citizens, along their immediate family members, "responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, such as undermining the freedom of peaceful assembly and association, violently attacking peaceful protesters, intimidating civil society representatives, and deliberately spreading disinformation at the direction of the Georgian government".[19]

2024 parliamentary election

Ahead of the 2024 parliamentary election Georgian Dream announced that it along with its offshoot People's Power party would run on the same list.[140]

Ideology

Despite positioning itself as a center-left party,[141][142] Georgian Dream has governed amorphously and lacks a clear ideology like many parties of power. Its origins as an all-encompassing front in opposition to the United National Movement government contributed to the opaque political ideology. Georgian political scientist Levan Lortkipanidze described Georgian Dream as "a party which is held together through loyalty to its charismatic leader and the opposition to the government of the 'Rose Revolution'" (UNM).[143] Ivanishvili's form of government in the early years was described as "popular oligarchy".[144] The party has been described as adhering to the "ideology-free" technocratic populism: transcending right–left ideological landscape.[145]

Lately, the party has been characterized as being more consistent ideologically. It has been described as conservative,[146] populist,[147] illiberal,[148] authoritarian,[149] Eurosceptic,[5] as well as anti-Western.[20] Illiberal conservative forces within the party gained the upper hand since mid-2019, steering the party significantly to the right and in practice abandoning the officially expressed pro-European course in favor of a soft Eurosceptic approach of "joining the EU whilst playing by Georgian rules".[150][151][152][153] The party leaders maintained Georgia will become "a member of the big family called Europe with our own identity and sovereignty".[154] Shalva Papuashvili, Georgian Dream's chair of parliament, positioned the party as the only political force in Georgia "merging Europeanism and patriotism".[155] Political analysts consider this ideological development of Georgian Dream as sovereigntism,[156] which has been connected with Hungary and Viktor Orbán specifically, being Georgian Dream's main ally and ideological inspiration contributing to the "Orbanization of Georgia".[6][148][157][158]

Georgian Dream was initially considered a 'big tent' party, based on the different political strains that were present within the party, including social democracy, market liberalism and social conservatism,[142] striving to join the European Union and NATO,[159] while at the same time building balanced and friendly relations with Russia.[160] During its first election, the party has been described as the conciliatory alternative to the more resolutely anti-Russian United National Movement party of Mikheil Saakashvili.[161] The main criticism against Georgian Dream has been the claimed "pro-Russian foreign policy" of the party.[162][163][164]

Economic policy

Initially, Georgian Dream espoused center-left socio-economic views combined with a number of center-right economic policies. According to the Georgian Institute of Politics, Georgian Dream's economic policy by 2017 was a combination of the pre-existing free market model, created by their predecessor United National Movement party, with a comprehensive social safety net.[142] Its social policies included the introduction of universal healthcare and a new labor code. However, a number of left-wing activists viewed the party as "ideologically amorphous", while Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili described himself as "more of a center-right politician".[165]

Georgian Dream deputies supported in 2017 the removal of the constitutional ban on progressive taxes and the requirement to hold referenda to raise corporate and income tax rates. These provisions were implemented in 2011 by the former ruling UNM party through its Economic Liberty Act. The proposal to amend the law was opposed by business groups and the political opposition, after which a compromise was reached that the ban would remain in place until 2029.[166]

The party also professed a commitment to "economic openness" and "market-driven growth", implementing both social democratic and neoliberal policies. The 2020 election manifesto contained a mix of center-left and center-right policies, with the main message being 'effective' government and 'social prosperity'.[9] The economic section of the 2020 election manifesto advocated the continuation of low taxes, free market, small government, and less regulation, effectively positioning itself more towards the center-right.[167]

During his address to the Georgian Parliament in February 2021, Prime Minister-designate Irakli Garibashvili criticized the idea of a minimal state and the "invisible hand of the market". He said the "small state idea is a myth impeding the country's development" and called on the government to play an active role in the economy, emphasizing that Georgia should become economically more self-sufficient.[10] He criticized the previously ruling United National Movement for their free-market approach to economics. The speech was described as "a remarkable rhetorical break from Georgian political orthodoxy", which was more or less always supportive of the free market economics and economic non-interventionism since its introduction by the UNM and continuation by Georgian Dream.[168]

Social policy

While, Georgian Dream has always espoused rather socially conservative values, the party has experienced a notable right-wing shift, with the party being accused of adopting far-right ideas on LGBT rights and other social and cultural issues.[12][146]

LGBT rights

Even though Georgian Dream had a largely socially conservative and religious base, as many priests of the Georgian Orthodox Church supported the party coming to power in 2012, Georgian Dream initially had a relatively liberal approach to the LGBT rights.[169] Prior to a rally to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in May 2013, Prime Minister Ivanishvili openly defended LGBT-rights by saying they "have the same rights as any other social groups" in Georgia and that "society will gradually get used to it".[170] In a highly conservative and religious society, Ivanishvili became the first Georgian politician to openly make such statement.[169] However, the party failed to stop the rally being violently disrupted by thousands of anti-gay protesters led by Orthodox Church clergy.[171]

As precondition for Georgia to obtain relaxed visa procedures with the European Union, the Georgian Dream government passed an anti-discrimination law in 2014,[172][173] which also provided protection against discrimination of sexual minorities, making Georgia the most LGBT-friendly country in the South Caucasus.[174] The law was highly criticized by the Georgian Orthodox Church.[175]

However, Georgian Dream opposes same-sex marriage in Georgia. In response to conservative criticism of the anti-discrimination law, Georgian Dream proposed to put a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, despite an existing implicit ban in the Civil Code.[176] Prime Minister Garibashvili said this step was necessary to avoid confusion in society that the anti-discrimination law granted any new rights or privileges to any group and that it would lead to same-sex marriages in the future.[177] The constitution was eventually amended in 2018, defining marriage as "a union between a woman and a man for the purpose of creating a family".[178]

Over time, the party has grown more conservative and outspoken against what they perceive as “LGBT-propaganda” and has been accused of using homophobia as a political tool.[179] In July 2021, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili argued against holding the gay parade on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi as "unreasonable", offering alternative locations, saying it contains the risk of "civil confrontation" as the majority of the populace finds such a parade "unacceptable".[180] The parade was cancelled when the authorities did not provide safety guarantees.[181] Garibashivili's remarks prompted thousands of far-right radicals to attack the Tbilisi Pride office, activists and journalists, which led to dozens being injured.[182] Garibashvili dismissed the attack as "very unfortunate", but said that "violence happens everywhere", for which Tbilisi Pride criticized him as "homophobic" and "anti-state".[183]

Two years later, the party denounced "LGBT propaganda among children" and blamed it for increasing numbers of people who identify as LGBT in Western countries. In a speech at the ultra-conservative CPAC-conference, Garibashvili spoke of the importance of preserving "traditional values" and the inadmissibility of "violence by the minority against the majority" in a denunciation of "aggressive propaganda" as a tool to forcefully change the traditional values of the majority.[184][185]

Georgian Dream introduced constitutional amendments in 2024 to "protect family values and minors" and to allow marriage only of "a union of a single genetic male and a single genetic female", narrowing the marriage rights on top of the already existing ban on same-sex marriage. The amendments would further prohibit what the party calls "LGBT propaganda", gender transition and adoption of children by same-sex couples.[186]

Gender equality

The party had an ambiguous position on gender equality. In 2017, the party voted in favor of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Georgia and it launched an amendment to the Election Code introducing gender quota. This would require political parties that participate in elections to include women in every fourth position on their party lists, in order to increase female representation in politics. However, the initiative failed to pass through parliament.[187] Ahead of the 2020 Georgian parliamentary election, the gender quota for political parties was adopted, albeit under pressure of the European Union and the OSCE.[188][189] Further amendments to extend and expand the quota were adopted in February 2023.[190] However, in 2024 Georgian Dream backtracked on its earlier position and supported the initiative of the right-libertarian Girchi party to repeal the gender quota legislation.[191][192]

Green policy

The party has consistently projected a progressive image on environmental issues.[193] The party advocates for banning old cars for their high carbon emissions and introducing a corporate green tax for businesses that cause environmental pollution.[194] Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi, has highlighted the importance of taking some "unpopular steps" in order to improve the existing ecological situation and create green spaces.[195] Nevertheless, some green activists have questioned the party’s environmentalist credentials.[196]

Foreign policy

On foreign policy, Georgian Dream positions itself in favor of joining NATO and the European Union, which the far majority of Georgians support,[197] while at the same time "restoring friendly relations with Russia", as outlined by founder Bidzina Ivanishvili in January 2013.[160] However, the party's commitment to Euro-Atlantic aspirations is consistently questioned as is its alleged pivot towards Russia.[198][199][200]

European Union and NATO

See also: Georgia–European Union relations and Georgia–NATO relations
Semi-torn Georgian Dream election posters stating "fatherland, language, faith" at the top and "with dignity to Europe" at the bottom.

Although proclaiming a pro-European agenda, since the 2020s Georgian Dream's actual policy on the European Union has been described as Eurosceptic.[5][6][7][201] The party has positioned itself as combining the Western values and Georgian traditional values, as well as being in favor of the European integration while safeguarding Georgia from what it considers as unnecessary and excessive encroachment on its sovereignity from the European institutions.[202][203] Critics have denounced this as "doublethink", stating the party says "they favor accession to the European Union, but their actions aim to purge EU values from the country".[204]

In its first ruling term, Georgian Dream achieved significant steps towards European integration, such as an Association Agreement and visa-free travel to the Schengen Area.[e] In its second ruling term, Georgian Dream focused on integration rather than accession of Euro-Atlantic structures as end-goal, in a "realistic" adjustment of its foreign policy.[142] However, the more Georgia advanced with European integration, requiring the need for judicial, rule of law, and anti-corruption reforms, the more strained the party's relationship with the EU leaders became.[205] This converged with increasing anti-western propaganda by Georgian Dream leaders, piloting what some consider pro-Russian narratives, "seemingly designed to offend" its Western powers.[206] The adoption of legislation which has been declared incompatible with EU membership on multiple occasions by the EU,[207] such as the "foreign agents" bill, is considered deliberate sabotage of the accession process by Georgian Dream.[208][209]

The party's official position regarding the European Union and its accession process is that it plans to make Georgia part of the European Union with the Georgian government "playing by Georgian rules" and maintaining its dignity.[150] Irakli Kobakhidze maintained that Georgia "will become a member of the European Union with dignity, independence, freedom and sovereignty".[210] Amid discussion of the foreign agent law in 2023, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that "time of Georgian authorities serving foreign interests is over", in particular, he denounced "MEPs and some corrupt bureaucrats" for their efforts to "dictate their rules to the Georgian people".[211] The Georgian Dream members often emphasize what they consider as the unfair treatment from the European Union, such as the EU's rejection of Georgia's membership application in June 2022, which the PM Garibashvili called an "unfair decision". Garibashvili said that Georgia is ahead of both Moldova and Ukraine, which were granted the EU candidacy, in terms of reforms and performance, and that while Georgia was required the judicial, rule of law, and anti-corruption reforms before receiving the EU candidacy, Moldova and Ukraine were also given these priorities but they received the EU candidacy in advance.[212] The Georgian Dream officials often lament the EU for what they consider as the "lack of merit-based approach" regarding Georgia, instead being driven by what they consider as the unacceptable "political agenda".[213][214][215]

Georgian Dream has often criticized the EU and US for conducting foreign interference in Georgian domestic politics. As such, Garibashvili referred to Mikheil Saakashvili as "European Parliament's agent" who they wanted to see return to power and passed "shameful" resolutions to support Saakashvili, while "disregarding the opinion of the Georgian people" about Saakashvili who "tortured [and] killed people, terrorised the business and completely suppressed the media freedom".[211] In response to the comments made by the Western ambassadors that Georgia must not pass the foreign influence law, such as the statement by the United States ambassador Kelly C. Degnan that Georgia "does not need this law",[216] Irakli Kobakhidze slammed the "foreign diktat" and challenged foreign ambassadors for TV debate. He said that the ambassadors "are trying to assume the functions of the legislator, participate in the legislative process and dictate to the supreme body of the representative democracy which laws it should pass or not".[217] Kobakhidze said that Georgia will become the member of the European Union only as a part of "unity of sovereign states".[218]

At first, Georgian Dream pursued NATO membership for Georgia, but in line with its political development, the party effectively abandoned this policy since 2020, which became most visible after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[219][220] In 2023 at the Global Security Forum, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili blamed NATO enlargement as "one of the main reasons for Ukraine war".[220] Garibashvili later defended the statement by saying that he did not blame NATO for the war with this statement, but rather said that a desire to join NATO was the reason for war, and claimed that his statement was similar to that made by Ursula von der Leyen when she said that Ukraine was under attack for its desire to be part of "European family".[221][222]

Russia

See also: Georgia–Russia relations

Georgian Dream’s policy towards Russia is subject to debate among political analysts with some describing their approach as “cautious”, while a growing number of analysts see the party moving Georgia into the "Russian orbit".[200][204][206] However, Georgian Dream rebukes this characterization and outlines their policy as “pragmatic and principled” describing their doctrine as “strategic patience”.[223][224]

Georgian Dream supports the normalization of relations with the Russian Federation, strained after the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. The party has stressed the importance of Georgia having "normal, peaceful relations" with its "largest neighbor" aimed at "avoiding harm to Georgia [and] its citizens".[224][225] Bidzina Ivanishvili has emphasized the necessity of economic relations with Russia for Georgia's economy as Russia is Georgia's biggest neighbor.[226] 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 the Russian market for Georgian citizens working in the wine industry.[f] Nevertheless, Bidzina Ivanishvili has ruled out Georgia joining the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.[227]

In return Georgian Dream has been described by the opposition as pro-Russian. In the 2012 parliamentary election Ivanishvili was painted by the government as a "Russian stooge" and some analysts described the party as a "Russian project".[228][161] The critics claimed that the party's lax stance on Russia was proof of the government's pro-Russian politics.[229] The government’s political and economic rapprochement with Russia, its increasing anti-western rhetoric, and the passing of the "foreign agents" bill, are viewed by a number of analysts and the opposition, including the President Salome Zourabichvili, as further proof of the party being pro-Russian and under the influence of Russia.[117][230][231][200][204][206]

Georgian Dream however dismisses the "pro-Russian" labeling, claiming that their approach is focused on balancing act between Russia and other regional powers intended to maintain peace and stability in Georgia.[232][233] Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili described this in 2023 as "navigating through the turbulent situation to survive".[212] Political commenters have called the approach "attractive and tempting in theory", but "unrealistic and superfluous" in reality.[234] A "pragmatic" policy towards Russia, has been welcomed by Moscow.[235]

The launching of the normalization of relations was signified by the first two-way meeting of Russian and Georgian officials after the 2008 war held in Prague in December 2012. However, since the party opposed the restoration of formal diplomatic and political ties with Russia until the disputes with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia were resolved, a Georgian diploimat Zurab Abashidze was appointed as a Special Representative of the Georgian government to mend ties outside formal diplomatic relations by meeting periodically with his Russian counterpart Grigory Karasin on neutral ground in Prague.[236] The "Prague Format" of Russia-Georgia relations was not meant to facilitate the resolution of disputes regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as both sides remained at odds over these issues.[237] Abashidze emphasized that the question of its territorial integrity is Georgia's "red line" on which no concession is conceivable.[238] The Prague Format was rather focused on a pragmatic process on matters of mutual interest that are unrelated to the breakaways.[237]

The Georgian Dream government has also pressed for dialogue with Russia on the issue of breakaway regions, as the Georgian Dream party has stressed that the only viable option to solve the disputes is through negotiations.[239] In particular, the Georgian government asked Russia to include the issue of breakaway regions during the bilateral talks in 2014 and 2015,[237] while Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has publicly appealed to the Russian government in 2018 for "reasonable steps for bringing the Georgian-Russian relations out of a vicious circle" caused by the 2008 war, which he called a "dramatic development that has left a deep imprint on the consciousness of the Georgian people and on the Russian-Georgian relations". He also criticized the previous government's policy as harming the prospects of normalizing relations, commenting that "even the slightest change of [policy] is regarded as treason by this so-called opposition".[240] The Georgian Dream officials have been particularly critical of what they consider as Mikheil Saakashvili's confrontational approach to Russia, which Bidzina Ivanishvili denounced for bringing only "negative results".[241]

Ukraine

See also: Georgia–Ukraine relations

Georgia–Ukraine relations relations became strained soon after Georgian Dream came to power. The primary conflict had to do with ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili being granted Ukrainian citizenship and being placed in various governmental positions, while the Georgian government sought his extradition and prosecution for abuse of power, embezzlement, and his implication in the attempted murder of an opposition MP.[g] The dysfunctional relationship continued after the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the Ukrainian government calling on sanctions against Ivanishvili.[242][243]

Georgian Dream ruled out imposing economic sanctions on Russia and providing military aid to Ukraine but vowed to support Ukraine in the diplomatic arena.[244] Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of Georgian Parliament argued Georgia is restricted to do more by the presence of Russian troops on its territory, not far from the capital.[245] Prime Minister Garibashvili allured to western hypocrisy by recalling that in the aftermath of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War no sanctions were imposed by the Western countries on Russia.[239]

When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Georgian Dream imposed sanctions on Russian-annexed Crimea, which 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. However, it did not impose sanctions on Russia proper to avoid tensions and its reciprocal steps which would have undermined relations.[237]

International Affiliation

Since its inception Georgian Dream affiliated with European and global social democratic umbrella organizations, but in 2023 the ties were severed due to the divergent ideological development of the party in relation to the political values of these umbrella organizations. According to Georgian political analysts, Georgian Dream has never taken its international political relations seriously.[246]

At the global level, Georgian Dream was a member of the Progressive Alliance, the global umbrella organization of social democratic parties. However, the two silently parted ways sometime in the summer of 2023.[247] Until 29 June 2023, Georgian Dream was an observer member of the Party of European Socialists (PES), the pan-European social democratic party, when it was expelled from it.[15] The increasingly illiberal policies of Georgian Dream strained the relationship with PES, which began to review the partnership with GD by April 2023.[248]

Garibashvili on CPAC Hungary, May 2023

The final drop for PES was the opening speech of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the conference of the conservative Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest on 4 May 2023. On the same day PES released a statement denouncing the participation of the Georgian Prime Minister in the CPAC conference, with PES Vice President Kati Piri stating "the actions of Prime Minister Garibashvili are unacceptable and place him completely outside the values of our political family".[249] Anticipating expulsion, GD turned around the narrative and announced it was leaving PES itself.[248] Explaining its decision, Georgian Dream argued that the "ideological transformation of PES is unacceptable and incompatible with the values of the party and the Georgian people",[248] and that PES allegedly moved away from "classical social-democratic ideology and switched to a pseudo-liberal platform".[250]

Georgian Dream coalition

Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia was the leading member of the Georgian Dream Coalition which was formed in the run-up to the 2012 Georgian parliamentary election. It initially included five other political parties of diverse ideological orientations.[251][252] 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.[253][254] In November 2014 the Free Democrats left the coalition,[255] and it eventually fell apart in March 2016 in the run-up to the 2016 Georgian parliamentary election.[256]

Former constituent parties

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

Electoral performance

Parliamentary

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
2012[h] Bidzina Ivanishvili 1,184,612 54.97
85 / 150
 new 1st Government
2016 Giorgi Kvirikashvili 857,394 48.65
115 / 150
 Increase 30 Steady 1st Government
2020 Giorgi Gakharia 928,004 48.22
90 / 150
 Decrease 25 Steady 1st Government

Presidential

Election year Candidate Results
# of the overall vote % of the 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
 Increase 240 Steady 1st
2021 824 755 46.75
1,358 / 2,068
 Decrease 252 Steady 1st

Presidents of Georgia from Georgian Dream

Name From To
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

Notes

  1. ^ This nickname is a portmanteau, combining parts of the words "ქართული ოცნება" (kartuli otsneba), meaning "Georgian Dream."
  2. ^ See ideology section for further detail.
  3. ^ See ideology section for further detail.
  4. ^ PM said that Georgia's share in Russia's foreign trade turnover is only 0.3%, while Russia is Georgia's main trade partner
  5. ^ See history for specific achievements
  6. ^ Russia was responsible for 80-90% of the total wine exports in Georgia before the ban
  7. ^ See Georgia–Ukraine relations for the full history
  8. ^ As part of Georgian Dream coalition

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  253. ^ de Waal, Thomas (26 September 2012). "Georgia Holds Its Breath". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  254. ^ Linderman, Laura (2013). Six Months of Georgian Dreams: The State of Play and Ways Forward (PDF). Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022. 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.
  255. ^ "Alasania's Free Democrats Quit GD Coalition". Civil Georgia. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  256. ^ "GD Coalition Members Part Ways for Upcoming Elections". Civil Georgia. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
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