Voters in the country of Georgia must balance bid to join the EU with maintaining Russian relations
Demonstrators carry EU and Georgian flags during a march in support of Georgia’s EU candidacy with the building of Georgian Parliament in the left, in Tbilisi, Georgia, Dec. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)
DATE OF ELECTION
Date not yet announced but expected to be Oct. 26
TYPE OF ELECTION
Parliamentary
WHO’S RUNNING
There are two main political parties in Georgia. The Georgian Dream Party, the ruling party since 2012, is led by Russia-friendly billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili who returned to politics in December. The United National Movement Party was founded by jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili and is the largest opposition party. However, due to internal disputes, some of its leaders have left and are expected to form a new party in February. Overall, trust in political parties in Georgia is very low. A recent poll conducted by NDI showed Georgian Dream has 19% support, and UNM has 4%.
WHY IT MATTERS TO THE WORLD
Under the Georgian Dream party, which has been in control since 2012, Georgia has tried to balance its pursuit of closer ties with the West and avoid antagonizing Russia, the giant neighbor whose troops occupy two separatist regions of the country. Georgian Dream has only a working hold on the current parliament, relying on a small partner party. But the 2024 election will be held under a constitutional change that makes the entire body elected on a proportional basis – a change that the opposition, which is trying to consolidate its forces, welcomes. The governing party has been bolstered by recent nationwide happiness that the European Union has accorded Georgia candidate status.
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