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European Georgia – Movement for Liberty

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European Georgia – Movement for Liberty (Georgian: ევროპული საქართველო – მოძრაობა თავისუფლებისთვის, romanized: evrop'uli sakartvelo – modzraoba tavisuplebistvis) is a liberal political party in Georgia. European Georgia dates its history all the way back to 1999, however, the party in its current form was founded in 2017 by dissenting members of United National Movement, compromising the vast majority of the party's parliamentary representation.

European Georgia
ევროპული საქართველო
ChairmanVacant
Secretary-GeneralAkaki Bobokhidze
Chairman of the Political CouncilVacant
Founded13 January 2017 (2017-1-13)
Registered28 May 1999[1]
Split fromUNM
HeadquartersTbilisi, Barnovi str. 40
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right[5][6][7]
National affiliationUnity – National Movement
(since 2024)
European affiliationEuropean People's Party (observer)[8]
International affiliationCentrist Democrat International
Colors  Navy blue
  red
Parliament
0 / 150
Municipal Councilors
18 / 2,068
Website
europeangeorgia.ge

European Georgia was originally chaired by Davit Bakradze. It participated in 2017 local elections and 2020 parliamentary election becoming the third largest party in the country. However, in late 2020 to early 2021 the party experienced a schism resulting in a vast number of its most prominent faces leaving including Bakradze. Bakradze was replaced by Giga Bokeria under whom the party saw a significant reduction in vote share in the 2021 local elections.

European Georgia originally planned to take part in the 2024 parliamentary election independently, however, after experiencing another schism with Bokeria and his team leaving and forming Federalists, of which he founded and lead, the party decided to become a part of the UNM-led Unity – National Movement coalition.

History

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Split from United National Movement

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The first chairman of European Georgia Davit Bakradze in 2016

European Georgia dates its history to 1999 when it was first registered as a political party.[1] The party was led by Nugzar Tsereteli, father of Gigi Tsereteli, one of the founders of the party in its modern state. In the 2016 parliamentary election, European Georgia was a member of an electoral bloc led by United National Movement also titled United National Movement. Out of the 199 candidates on its electoral list five were from European Georgia, however, none got elected.[9]

Soon after the election, UNM experienced a massive schism with 21 out of 27 elected MPs opting to leave the party after an internal conflict related to disagreements over ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili leadership. Saakashvili, questioning the legitimacy of the election, had rejected the party's decision to enter the parliament and called for not participating in the runoffs. Another cause of the rift has been Saakashvili's opposition to appoint a new chairman in his place. The group highlighted UNM's inability to deal with its controversial past and rebuild its image. Saakashvili subsequently accused the group of carrying out the agenda of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the de-facto leader of Georgian Dream.[10]

Among the MPs who left UNM were Davit Bakradze, the leader of the parliamentary minority and UNM's candidate for the 2013 presidential election, Gigi Ugulava, former mayor of Tbilisi, and Giga Bokeria, Secretary of the National Security Council. On 30 January 2017, during a party presentation, Ugulava was named interim secretary general, until a party conference could be held.[11][12] On 27 May, Bakradze was elected the chairman of the party with Ugulava becoming secretary-general.[13]

In the 2017 local elections, European Georgia managed to become the third largest party in the country garnering 10.4% of the nationwide vote and winning 116 council seats. In the Tbilisi mayoral election Elene Khoshtaria, the party's candidate in the race, finished in the fourth place getting 7.11% of the vote.[14] In the 2018 presidential election, the party nominated Bakradze as its nominee, who finished in the third place with 10.97% of the vote. He subsequently supported Grigol Vashadze in the runoff.[15]

2020 parliamentary election

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In the 2020 parliamentary election European Georgia finished third and received 3.79% of the vote securing 5 seats. European Georgia joined all other political parties in refusing to recognize the electoral results after allegations of voter fraud surfaced, boycotting majoritarian runoffs and entering the parliament.[16]

 
Giga Bokeria, the chairman of European Georgia from 2021 to 2024

In the aftermath of the election, European Georgia started experiencing a major schism. First to leave was Khoshtaria who went on to establish her own party Droa.[17] Next key members to leave were Bakradze and Ugulava who cited the failure of the party leadership for the disappointing election results.[18] Bokeria was subsequently elected the chairman of the party.[19]

The party backed negotiations with Georgian Dream facilitated by the Western countries.[20] On March 1, 2021, President of the European Council Charles Michel launched new negotiations between Georgian Dream and the opposition to put an end to the political crisis.[21] The sides reached an agreement on April 19, however, European Georgia itself was divided over the issue. The party decided not to sign the deal, which caused Tariel Nakaidze to quit European Georgia and enter the parliament as an independent MP.[22][23]

Due to major defections, European Georgia lost significant support in the 2021 local elections. The party's nationwide vote share fell to 1.66%, losing 90% of its councillors.[24]

2024 parliamentary election

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Gigi Tsereteli, the current leader of European Georgia

European Georgia supported the protests held in 2023 against the introduction of the 'Foreign Agent Law' and once again in 2024 after its reintroduction and adoption.[25][26][27] The party subsequently signed the Georgian Charter initiated by the president Salome Zourabichvili that sets out goals for a possible future government.[28] For the 2024 parliamentary election, the party at first tried forming a political coalition with Ahali and Lelo, however, once those attempts failed, it turned against joining any bloc, which caused controversy in the wider opposition as the risk of the party falling below the 5% threshold and wasting votes was raised.[29][30]

On 1 August 2024, European Georgia experienced its latest split, with Bokeria and his wife Tamar Chergoleishvili, along with their supporters, leaving the party over disagreements on the way the party primary was conducted.[31][32] The majority of the party's electoral list (24 out of 37 members), which was based on the results of the primary, decided to leave the party and follow Bokeria and Chergoleishvili.[33][34] On August 15, the former members of European Georgia, announced the establishment of a new political party called the "Federalists".[35][36] 2 days later the rump European Georgia party announced it was joining the UNM-led Unity – National Movement coalition.[37]

Ideology

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European Georgia is commonly characterized as a centre-right party with right-wing fiscal and liberal social views.[38][41] Its ideology has been labeled liberalism, classical liberalism, Conservative liberalism, and right-liberalism.[3][42][4][2] The party is viewed as being strongly in favor of European integration and NATO membership.[5][43]

European Georgia has been described as sharing most of its ideology with its parent party United National Movement, however, EG portrays itself as a more socially liberal party.[6][43] The party is additionally more fiscally right-wing than UNM supporting small government, deregulation, and privatization of industries such as healthcare.[40][43] The parties also disagree on the legacy of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, with European Georgia actively trying to distance the party from him.[44]

Electoral performance

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Parliamentary election

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government Coalition
2020 Davit Bakradze 72,986 3.79
5 / 150
 New 3rd Opposition Independent
2024 Gigi Tsereteli 211,216 10.17
1 / 150
   4 3rd Opposition Unity

Presidential election

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Election year Candidate 1st round
# of overall votes % of overall vote
2018 Davit Bakradze 174,849 10.97

Local election

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Election Votes % Seats +/–
2017 156,232 10.4
116 / 2,043
 New
2021 29,251 1.66
17 / 2,068
   99

Seats in Municipal Assemblies

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Municipal Council Votes % Seats Status
Gurjaani 1,045 3.75 (#4)
1 / 39
 Opposition
Akhaltsikhe 593 3.00 (#3)
1 / 39
 Opposition
Aspindza 229 3.40 (#3)
1 / 30
 Opposition
Akhalkalaki 977 5.50 (#3)
2 / 42
 Opposition
Ninotsminda 351 3.25 (#4)
1 / 30
 Opposition

References

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  1. ^ a b "პოლიტიკური პარტიების რეესტრი". National Agency of Public Registry of Ministry of Justice of Georgia.
  2. ^ a b c "Georgia's Political Landscape". Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. 18 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Georgian 2020 elections: latest developments". Caucasus Watch. 8 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b Dr. Maia Urushadze; Dr. Tamar Kiknadze (2–4 July 2021). "The Relevance of the Actual Values of the Political Actors of Georgia with the Ideologies Declared by Them". Diamond Scientific Publishing.
  5. ^ a b c "Parties, Parliaments and Polling Averages: Georgia". Europe Elects.
  6. ^ a b c "Georgia - 3 Political Parties". European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity.
  7. ^ a b "Georgia: Political parties at a glance". PolitPro.
  8. ^ "Parties & Partners". epp.eu.
  9. ^ Jelger Groeneveld (15 Apr 2023). "2016 Elections Parliament of Georgia". East Watch.
  10. ^ Civil.ge (January 12, 2017). "United National Movement Splits". Civil.ge. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  11. ^ Civil.ge (January 30, 2017). "Former UNM Members Unveil Political Plans, Change Party Name". Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Civil.Ge | Former UNM Members Unveil Political Plans, Change Party Name".
  13. ^ "European Georgia Selects Chairman, Secretary General, and Political Council Chair at Convention". Tabula. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Georgian 2017 Municipal Election Results in Maps". Civil Georgia. 25 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Bakradze Admits Defeat, Pledges Support to Vashadze". Civil Georgia. 28 October 2018.
  16. ^ "All Opposition Parties Refuse to Enter Next Parliament". Civil Georgia. November 2, 2020. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  17. ^ "Senior Member Quits European Georgia Party". Civil Georgia. 28 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Bakradze, Ugulava to Quit as European Georgia Leaders, Bokeria Stays". Civil Georgia. 12 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Giga Bokeria elected as Chairman of European Georgia". 1TV. 10 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Boycotting Opposition Parties Call on GD to Resume Talks". Civil Georgia. February 26, 2021. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  21. ^ "GD, Opposition Talk Expectations as Danielsson Holds Meetings". Civil Georgia. March 13, 2021. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  22. ^ "Georgian Dream, Opposition, Except for UNM, EG, Sign EU Proposal". Civil Georgia. April 19, 2021. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  23. ^ "European Georgia MP Quits Party, Enters Parliament as Party Disagrees". Civil Georgia. 18 May 2024.
  24. ^ "2021 Municipal Elections: Outcomes, Winners, Trends". Civil Georgia. 6 October 2021.
  25. ^ Pjotr Sauer (9 May 2023). "Why did protesters in Georgia oppose the 'Russian law' bill?". The Guardian.
  26. ^ Giorgi Menabde (13 March 2023). "Georgian Government Withdraws 'Foreign Agents' Bill After Large-Scale Protests". The Jamestown Foundation.
  27. ^ Ani Chkhikvadze (28 May 2024). "Georgian parliament overrides veto of controversial foreign agent law". Voice Of America.
  28. ^ "Opposition Parties Sign Georgian Charter". Civil Georgia. 3 June 2024.
  29. ^ Tamar Tabatadze (8 July 2024). "European Georgia expresses disappointment over unresolved negotiations with Ahali and Lelo". 1TV.
  30. ^ Joshua Kucera (25 July 2024). "Never Mind Unseating Georgian Dream, Georgia's Opposition Must First Overcome Internal Frictions". Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
  31. ^ Marika Kartozia (1 August 2024). "Giga Bokeria quits European Georgia". 1TV.
  32. ^ "საინიციატივო ჯგუფებმა ევროპული საქართველოს პრაიმერიზში 2 კონკურენტი სია წარადგინეს". Tabula. 30 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Giga Bokeria quits European Georgia". Georgian Public Broadcaster. 1 August 2024.
  34. ^ "ვინ წავიდა ევროპული საქართველოდან და ვინ დარჩა პარტიაში". Tabula. 8 August 2024.
  35. ^ "ფედერალისტები - ბოკერიას და ჩერგოლეიშვილის გუნდმა ახალი პარტია წარადგინა". Tabula. 15 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Tamar Chergoleishvili, Giga Bokeria established Federalists Party". Georgian Public Broadcaster. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  37. ^ "European Georgia Joins Unity-National Movement". Georgian Public Broadcaster. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  38. ^ [5][6][7]
  39. ^ "საარჩევნო კომპასი საპარლამენტო არჩევნები: პოლიტიკური სურათი". Geo Compass.
  40. ^ a b "Right or Left: What Are Political Parties' Economic Visions?". International School of Economics at TSU (ISET). 26 October 2020.
  41. ^ [39][2][40]
  42. ^ Sergi Kapanadze (3 December 2023). "Anti-Western Propaganda – The Georgian Dream's All-purpose Fix". GEOpolitics journal.
  43. ^ a b c "Georgia - Parliamentary Elections". Center for Strategic & International Studies.
  44. ^ "Georgian Party Descriptions Ahead of Parliamentary Elections 2020". Europe Elects.
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