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 positionBig tent[3]
European affiliationParty of European Socialists (observer) (2015–2023)[4]
Colours  
Sloganთავისუფლება, 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 politician, billionaire businessman and oligarch[5] Bidzina Ivanishvili.[6] 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. Even though the party in the past has self-identified as social democrats,[7] post-2022 Georgian Dream holds stances that have been described as conservative,[8] populist,[9] illiberal,[10] authoritarian,[11] far-right,[12] anti-western,[13] and pro-Russia.[14]

History[edit]

Foundation[edit]

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 included several notable Georgians such as the former diplomat Tedo Japaridze, chess grandmaster Zurab Azmaiparashvili, writer Guram Odisharia, and famed footballer Kakha Kaladze, which helped the party consolidate its support.[15]

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. Saakashvili’s government has been 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."[16]

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. Georgian Dream managed to capitalize on the growing discontent, united the opposition, and mobilized popular support.

Early years of government (2012-2019)[edit]

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.[15][17] It won this election in coalition with six other opposition parties, with 54.97% of the vote, being allotted 85 seats in parliament.[6] 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.[18]

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), and self-governance and agriculture reforms were initiated. In November 2013, Ivanishvili voluntarily stepped down as prime minister after just 13 months in office, formally quitting the political arena, while running the government from behind the scenes. [19] He was succeeded by Irakli Garibashvili who led the government from November 20, 2013, until December 30, 2015. Under his tenure, Georgia signed the historic European Union Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. [20]

In October 2013, Giorgi Margvelashvili, a member of the Georgian Dream party, won the presidential election, gaining 61.12% of the vote.[21] During his tenure, Margvelashvili tried to be a voice of moderation and was critical of the Georgian Dream's consolidation of power. He was the first president in Georgia's history not to seek reelection for a second term.[22][23]

Irakli Garibashvili himself was succeeded by Giorgi Kvirikashvili, under whom the party went on to win a landslide victory in the 2016 Georgian parliamentary election, winning a constitutional majority of 115 seats out of 150.[24] Kvirikashvili's government focused on economic growth as well as strengthening relations with the west.[25] Utilizing the Supermajority Georgian Dream now possessed, the government made grand amendments to the constitution, changing the way the parliament and the president are elected.[26]

As the cracks were emerging between old Georgian Dream coalition members who joined while the party was still in opposition, and the ‘new faces’ who were installed in high positions before the 2016 parliamentary elections, in April of 2018, Ivanishvili made a comeback in politics being appointed the chair of the Georgian Dream party. This move is seen as an attempt to unify the coalition, however, with the general populace, his comeback was taken for granted as he had retained overwhelming sway over the party ever since his formal resignation in 2013.[27]

Giorgi Kvirikashvili suddenly resigned in June of 2018, claiming "disagreements with the leader of the ruling party" as the reason for his resignation.[28] He was succeeded by largely politically unknown Mamuka Bakhtadze. [29] In August 2018, Chairman of the Parliament 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.[30] After a stronger than expected performance from the opposition in the first round, Bidzina Ivanishvili in an attempt to secure Zourabichvili’s victory put together a scheme where the debts of 600,000 Georgians would be forgiven by his charity. That was enough to boost Georgian Dream’s popularity and give Zourabichvili a landslide victory in the second round.[31]

Political Turmoil (2019-2021)[edit]

The start of the political turmoil was the result of a political scandal where a Russian lawmaker from a communist party Sergei Gavrilov was allowed to deliver a speech from the speaker’s chair in the parliament building. The parliament building was hosting an international conference of lawmakers from Orthodox Christian countries at the time of the incident. The scene not only outraged the opposition but the ruling party and its supporters as well. For much of the Georgian population, it was completely unacceptable that a lawmaker from an occupying country who had a history of casting anti-Georgia votes presided over a parliament session.[32] A massive protest took place, that was violently dispersed by the orders of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia. Nevertheless, protests continued demanding electoral reform and resignations from the ruling party. Despite some concessions from the party 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."[33] Bidzina Ivanishvili personally nominated Gakharia as his replacement, praising him for his ability to manage crises. The opposition boycotted Gakharia’s confirmation vote. The scandal sparked concerns about the government's alleged russophilia.[31]

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.[34]

Gakharia resided over the government's 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 new electoral system. The opposition decried the results as illegitimate, organized protests, and refused to participate in the new parliament. 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".[35][31]

In February, UNM leader Nika Melia was arrested for his participation in the 2019 protests. Citing polarization, Gakharia opposed the detention of his political rival and decided to resign as prime minister. Garibashvili was selected as his successor, heading Second Garibashvili government, and arresting Melia the day after his confirmation. Gakharia stated in February 2021 that he no longer agreed with the positions of the Georgian Dream and he therefore was leaving the party.[36] Several MPs from Georgian Dream joined him to form a new party For Georgia.[37][31]

On 19 April 2021, Georgian Dream and the opposition signed an agreement, which ended a six-month political crisis stemming from the contested 2020 parliamentary elections. The agreement stipulated snap parliamentary elections if the Georgian Dream party would garner less than 43% of the vote in the October 2021 local elections. Most parties signed the agreement, and 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 later led to Georgian Dream withdrawing from the agreement two months before the October 2021 local elections. According to the head of the Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze, the agreement "failed to accomplish its goals" because of the UNM's refusal to join it.[38][39]

Most parties signed the agreement, and 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 later led to Georgian Dream withdrawing from the agreement two months before the October 2021 local elections. According to the head of the Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze, the agreement "failed to accomplish its goals" because of the UNM's refusal to join it.[40][41] Nevertheless, 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.[42]

Russian invasion of Ukraine and the party's anti-western shift (2022-present)[edit]

In the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the party has adopted an increasingly anti-western stance. The party and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili have repeatedly accused the so-called "global war party" and the Freemasons of attempting to drag Georgia into the war and open a second front.[13] The conspiracy theories that assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs James C. O'Brien described as a "Reddit page came to life" have strained relations with the west and the country's traditional allies.[43]

Nevertheless, the Georgian government led by Georgian Dream has shown diplomatic support to Ukraine providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and sheltering Ukrainian refugees, while supporting Ukraine at diplomatic forums. It however 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 the Foreign Relations Committee of Georgian Parliament in an interview with 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 Tbilisi. So, in these circumstances, I think Georgia is punching above its weight when it supports Ukraine at the diplomatic forum, politically and also in humanitarian dimension". The relations with the political leadership of the European Union worsened in the following the war. 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 staunchly anti-western People's Power party. 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. In October 2022, Georgian Dream lost its parliamentary majority as a result of defections.[44][45][46]

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 opposition has denounced it as "the Russian law" because of Russia's use of similar legislation to stigmatise independent news media and organisations critical of the Kremlin.[47] 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.[48]

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.[49] 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".[50]

Despite being endorsed by the ruling Georgian Dream party during the 2018 presidential election, Zourabichvili had become increasingly alienated from the governing party in the following years, which led to the President's inter-institutional conflict with the Second Garibashvili government. In at least two occasions, the Government banned the President from traveling abroad, preventing her from visiting Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and France.[51] On 1 September 2023, the head of Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze announced that his party would launch impeachment proceedings against Zourabichvili, alleging violation of Constitution on her behalf.[52] Georgian Dream needed 100 votes in parliament to impeach the president, but got the support of just 86 lawmakers.[53]

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.[54]

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. Irakli Kobakhidze replaced him as prime minister.[55]

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.[56]

On April 3, the parliamentary majority leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced the reintroduction of the draft law on foreign agents. The reintroduction of the bill has resulted in what has been described as the largest protests in the country's post-independence history.[57] This has prompted the president of the country Salome Zourabichvili to refer to the ruling party as "Russian Dream".[58] Along with the international condemnation of the bill, United States Senate has considered 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.”[59] Similar sanctions as well as suspension of visa-free travel have been pushed by several EU countries.[60]

Ideology[edit]

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.'"[61]

In the past, Le Monde, The Guardian and Europe Elects have described the party as centre-left.[62][63][64] However, a more recent analysis of the party's ideology links it closer to the far-right and right-wing populism.[65] Hungary, and Viktor Orbán specifically, is said to be Georgian Dream's main ally and ideological inspiration. This has been referred to as the "Orbanization of Georgia".[66][67]

Economic policy[edit]

The party has persued a centre-left economic policy. 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.[7] 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".[68]

In 2017, the Georgian Dream-led parliament implemented a major constitutional reform. They 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".[69] 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.[70]

Social policy[edit]

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".[71] In 2014, the party passed legislation against discrimination toward LGBT individuals, making Georgia the most LGBT-friendly country in the South Caucasus de jure.[72] 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."[73] 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.[74][75] 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.[76] 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".[77][78] 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."[79]

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.[80] 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.[81]

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.[82]

Foreign Policy[edit]

In the field of foreign policy and security, the Georgian Dream supports the European integration,[83][84] 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.[85] The document points at the "pragmatic and principled" policy towards Russia.[86] Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that "pragmatic policy with Russia is aimed at avoiding harm to Georgia, its citizens".[87] 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.[88]

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.[89] However, the party did not join Ukraine and Western countries in imposing wide-ranging sanctions on Russia to avoid possible confrontation.[90] Amid the 2022 escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the party supported imposing sanctions on Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.[91] 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.[92] 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.[93] The party vowed to support Ukraine at diplomatic arena, voting in favor of pro-Ukraine resolutions.[94]

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.[95][96] However, on 3 March 2022, Georgia submitted its membership application ahead of schedule, following the 2022 escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war.[97]

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."[98] 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.[99] Eurasianet accused the party of alienating the European Union and "pivoting away from the West and drifting back into Russia’s geopolitical orbit".[100] 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.[101]

Georgian Dream coalition[edit]

Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia was the leading member of the Georgian Dream Coalition, which initially included six political parties of diverse ideological orientations.[102][103] 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.[104][105] The name of the alliance is inspired by a rap song by Ivanishvili's son Bera.[106]

Former constituent parties[edit]

Electoral performance[edit]

Georgian Dream electoral billboard, Tbilisi, August 2016

Parliamentary[edit]

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
2012[b] 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[edit]

Election year Candidate Results
# of overall votes % of overall vote
2013 Giorgi Margvelashvili 1,012,569 62.12 (#1)
2018 endorsed Salome Zourabichvili

Local[edit]

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[edit]

Name From To
Giorgi Margvelashvili 17 November 2013 16 December 2018

Prime Ministers of Georgia from Georgian Dream[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ See Ideology section for more details, including on foreign policy
  2. ^ As part of Georgian Dream coalition

References[edit]

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  3. ^ "Ruling party endorsed Zurabishvili wins Georgian presidency". Retrieved 6 May 2024. ...candidate of Georgian Dream—seen as Big Tent but self-described as centre-left...
  4. ^ Kincha, Shota (11 May 2023). "Georgian Dream renounces affiliation with centre-left EU parliament group". Retrieved 23 September 2023.
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  14. ^ "Who is running Georgia?". Politico. 26 April 2023.
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  16. ^ "Mikheil Saakashvili's Polarizing Legacy". Radio Freedom. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  17. ^ Opposition Victory Signals New Direction For Georgia Archived 13 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine. National Public Radio. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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  29. ^ "Georgian Dream name political newcomer as candidate for PM". OC Media. 15 June 2018.
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  31. ^ a b c d "Georgian Dream - political coalition, Georgia". Britannica.
  32. ^ "Who is the Russian Orthodox communist who provoked protests in Tbilisi?". JAM News. 29 June 2019.
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External links[edit]

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