| Federalists | |
| Native Name: | ფედერალისტები |
| Colorcode: |
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| Foundation: | 15 August 2024 |
| Ideology: | Classical Liberalism Federalism Atlanticism Pro-Europeanism |
| Colors: | Magenta White Silver Grey |
| Split: | European Georgia |
| Position: | Fiscal: Right-wing Social: Centre-left |
| Flag: | Federalists_logo_alt.png |
the Federalists (Georgian: ფედერალისტები, romanized: p'ederalistebi) is a classical liberal and pro-Western political party in Georgia, founded by former members of European Georgia.
Key figures in the party include Giga Bokeria, a former Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia and Tamar Chergoleishvili, the founder of the online magazine Tabula.
On 1 August 2024, a majority of the European Georgia electoral list, chosen during the party's internal primary election, left the party, including key figures Giga Bokeria and Tamar Chergoleishvili. The split arose from disagreements with other key figures, Gigi Tsereteli and Akaki Bobokhidze over the primary results. Later, Chergoleishvili and Bokeria separately announced that the departing members would be forming a new political party.[1] [2] [3] [4]
On August 15, the members who had recently left their previous party held a presentation to announce the founding of a new political party called the Federalists. They also mentioned that a party congress would take place in September. The Federalists have not yet confirmed whether they will participate in the 2024 parliamentary elections, as they were late in registering the party.[5] [6] [7]
The Federalists are a classical liberal party advocating for the federalization and decentralization of Georgia. They argue that federalism, common in European countries, can balance power and ensure accountability, countering the centralized, self-contained state. Their approach aims to decentralize power, reduce elite influence, and guide Georgia back to European and Western values.[8] [9] [10]
Prominent members of the party have previously led political campaigns and projects such as "Before Bucha Was Abkhazia," which advocates for international recognition of the ethnic cleansing of Georgians during the war in Abkhazia as genocide committed by Russia.[11] [12] [13] [14]
Current members have also been involved in significant work, such as the "New Republic", a roadmap for economically liberal reforms developed with their adherents under the Liberty Institute.[15] [16]
The Federalists' logo combines the imagery of a key with the Asomtavruli letter "Pari".
The name "Federalists" was inspired by an interview with General Giorgi Kvinitadze, which was broadcast by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in 1968:[17]
"Georgia and the Georgian people, with their traditions, customs, and state arrangement, are European, not Asian. I need to compare the state arrangements of Europe and Asia. In Asia, and also in Russia, there has never been what we call federalism. Georgia, like Europe, has had federalism. Therefore, the Georgian people are European, not Asian. As I mentioned, the Russians had a different approach; they never had federalism, so their leaders were endowed with terrible force, while ours were not. For example, during the time of Queen Tamar, she often spoke to her people not as a sovereign but as an obedient servant of her nation. This has always been the case in Georgia, as it has been in Europe. That is why we are more prepared to be a democratic country than Russia."