Mikheil Saakashvili, the ex-president of Georgia, was the person, who initiated and fought for Georgia’s rapprochement with the European Union and NATO. However, after his last mandate ended in 2013 and the Prime Minister of Georgia became Budzina Ivanishvili, a Russian oligarch and ex-chairman of the “Georgian Dream” populist political party, things started to change slightly.
The “Georgian Dream” won the parliamentary elections in 2012 and formed a coalition with several other Georgian parties at that time. The party pledged to increase welfare spending and to pursue a more pragmatic approach with Russia while maintaining a pro-Western and pro-NATO foreign policy. Nevertheless, when the “Georgian Dream” won the 2016 and 2020 parliamentary elections and took the absolute majority of seats in the parliament, it started to implement anti-NATO and pro-Russian policies.
Georgian Dream started from the persecution of the former government and opposition officials on charges of corruption, abuse of power, and torture. Tensions with Russia have somewhat eased compared to the period under the previous president, Mikheil Saakashvili, however its stance on Russia became too soft. This has been especially prominent when the government has not taken strong stances against Russian influence in Georgia, such as responding weakly to Russian military presence in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Although, it didn’t support Russia in a war with Ukraine, the party has emphasized avoiding provocations that could lead to conflict with Russia, what can be defined as a sign of pro-Russian appeasement.
Even though Georgian Dream states that it is focused on economic stabilization and reducing poverty, the poverty level still remains high, unemployment is still a major issue, and many economic promises have not been fully realized. There are concerns about economic stagnation, especially in rural areas, and over-reliance on foreign investments and remittances.
Ivanishvili’s Shadow Politics
Budzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of Georgian Dream, has played a central role in the party’s success. His vast personal wealth and perceived ability to wield influence behind the scenes have made him a controversial figure. Although Ivanishvili stepped down from formal leadership positions, many believe he continues to exert significant control over the party, creating the image of a party heavily reliant on a single charismatic leader—a hallmark of many populist movements.
Although Ivanishvili stepped down as a Prime Minister of Georgia in 2013, he has been returning to the public political life several times. He first went into the shadows, and from the post of prime minister, back in 2013 – just a few months after the Georgian Dream won the elections for the first time and removed Mikheil Saakashvili and his United National Movement from power. Then the billionaire returned in 2018 as chairman of the ruling party. And he left politics again in 2021 – after the Georgian Dream won the parliamentary elections for the third time a year earlier.
By being in the shadow politics of Georgia, Ivanishvili actually confirmed the assumption that he retains a decisive influence on everything that happens in the ruling party. He himself admitted that he had been in touch with its leaders in recent years, which
“helped to maintain a healthy atmosphere in the team.”
Despite all of the problems that the party faced during its tenure, it is still staying popular on the Georgia’s political arena. Even though it has lost about 6% in the polls this year, it is still the most influential party in the country. The reason is quite simple- it shows itself partially well in its promises.
Take the economy, for example: in 2022, the country’s GDP grew by a record 10.1%. This was largely due to the influx of money from Russian relocators, however, it is not a recession as it was in the European states, for instance. In 2023, the growth rate slowed down, but still exceeded expectations, amounting to about 7%. In 2024 and 2025, a rise is also predicted – in the region of 4-5%.
Another point is Georgia’s relations with Russia. Yes, “Georgian Dream” did not implement the Western-led sanctions, but it did not support the Russian Federation in the conflict as well. The government let the Russian migrants to enter the territory of Georgia despite the size of the migration flow and gave them a possibility to stay and work on the territory of the country while enriching Georgian economy, what worked out well on the economic indicators.
However, there were several problems that are right now worsening the polls of “Georgian Dream”.
Since Kobakhidze has regularly maintained his image with scandalous statements, it did not perform greatly for the party. Kobakhidze promoted the law on foreign agents, accused Ukraine of trying to drag Georgia into a war with Russia, and spoke about the unacceptability of LGBT propaganda. During the Wagner revolt, Kobakhidze accused the Georgian opposition of wanting
“as Prigozhin succeeds, not only to enter Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, but also to take Sochi on tanks.”
His statements often outraged not only the Georgians themselves, but also provoked conflicts between Tbilisi and partners in the West.
Georgia’s path to EU membership continue to decline
In a resolution adopted this week, Parliament voiced serious concerns about Georgia’s democratic backsliding, warning that the country’s EU integration is effectively on hold Despite Georgia being granted EU candidate status in December 2023 due to the ruling Georgian Dream party’s authoritarian agenda, including restrictions on media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as growing anti-EU rhetoric.
The resolution calls for an investigation into police brutality and personal sanctions against those undermining democracy, including former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. MEPs stress that the upcoming parliamentary elections on 26 October will be crucial for Georgia’s democratic future and EU aspirations and urge the Georgian authorities to ensure that the upcoming parliamentary elections respect the will and free choice of their people[1].
Parliament says Georgia’s democracy is at risk
europa.eu
Dear reader,
Opinions expressed in the op-ed section are solely those of the individual author and do not represent the official stance of our newspaper. We believe in providing a platform for a wide range of voices and perspectives, even those that may challenge or differ from our own. We remain committed to providing our readers with high-quality, fair, and balanced journalism. Thank you for your continued support.
