List of political parties in Georgia (country) explained

This is a list of political parties in the country of Georgia.

Active parties

Major parties

Parties with parliamentary representation

The following parties have representation in the Parliament of Georgia.


Name	Ideology	Year founded	Votes in 2020 proportional parliamentary polls	Note
Georgian Dream	Social democracy Syncretism	2012	928,004 (48.22%)	Founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili to challenge Mikheil Saakashvili's rule in the 2012 parliamentary election; has been the ruling party in Georgia since then. The party supports more centre-left economic approach compared to the United National Movement while maintaining a liberal economic model, balanced foreign policy, and less repressive criminal policy compared to UNM. Over the years, the party's socially conservative positions became more pronounced.
United National Movement	Euro-Atlanticism Economic liberalism Civic nationalism	2001	Ran in coalition as part of Strength is in Unity Bloc.	Founded in 2001 by Mikheil Saakashvili as a vehicle for opposition politicians to unite and challenge then-president Eduard Shevardnadze. The 2003 Rose Revolution brought party to the power until its defeat in the 2012 election. Since then, the UNM is the main opposition party. The party supports "tough-on-crime" policy, and strongly opposes any rapprochement towards Russia. Saakashvili is a central figure in the party to this day.
People's Power		2022	Then part of Georgian Dream.	Formed by a group of MPs who split from Georgian Dream and accused the EU and USA of trying to pressure and overthrow the Georgian government. Its ideology revolves around "protecting Georgia's sovereignty" from foreign forces and limiting foreign influence. The group proposed a law similar to FARA, which was met by protests and eventually rejected.After initially only being active as a political movement, People's Power was registered as a party in March 2024. It remains a part of the parliamentary majority together with GD.
For Georgia		2021	Then part of Georgian Dream.	Formed by former Georgian Dream Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned and left GD in 2021. The party has been critical of both the GD government and the opposition United National Movement.
Girchi		2016	55,598 (2.89%)	A right-libertarian party that split from UNM, known for its strong support for legalization of cannabis in Georgia and free market economic policy.
European Socialists		2020	Then part of Alliance of Patriots of Georgia.	A group of businessmen that broke from the Alliance of Patriots to establish their own political grouping in parliament. A party has social democratic and conservative views.
Progress and Freedom		2020	Ran in coalition as part of Strength is in Unity Bloc.	Founded by businessman Kakha Okriashvili, who was previously associated with the GD but currently is partner of UNM.
State for the People		2016	Ran in coalition as part of Strength is in Unity Bloc.	Founded by Paata Burchuladze as an attempt to bring new faces to politics, generally considered to be unsuccessful project. The party was rebranded since then and currently is in coalition with other opposition parties to remove GD from government.
Lelo for Georgia		2019	60,712 (3.15%)	Founded by banker Mamuka Khazaradze.
Strategy Aghmashenebeli		2016	Ran in coalition with Law and Justice.	Founded by former UNM government official Giorgi Vashadze as a new beginning for Vashadze's political ambitions.
Citizens		2020	25,508 (1.33%)	Founded by activist Aleko Elisashvili, described as populist.
Republican Party		1978	Ran in coalition as part of Strength is in Unity Bloc.	Oldest active Georgian political party, founded on liberal principles during the late Soviet period.
Law and Justice		2019	Ran in coalition with Strategy Aghmashenebeli.	Founded by former UNM politician Tako Charkviani
National Democratic Party		1988	421 (0.02%)	One of the oldest Georgian parties, actively involved in national movement of the late Soviet period, seeking to secure Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union. The party's then-nationalistic and theocratic views have been replaced by more christian democratic positions.
Victorious Georgia		2019	Ran in coalition as part of Strength is in Unity Bloc.	Founded by former UNM defence minister Irakli Okruashvili, who supported a military solution to the Ossetia conflict. The party strongly opposes Russian migration to Georgia during the Ukraine crisis, with the party's leader even suggesting a violent action to curb immigration.

The following parties won seats in the 10th Parliament of Georgia but have since then resigned them.


Name	Year founded	Votes in the 2020 parliamentary polls	Leader	Note
European Georgia — Movement for Liberty	2017	72,986 (3.79%)		Founded by former UNM politicians, considered to be more liberal counterpart of the UNM
Alliance of Patriots of Georgia	2012	60,480 (3.14%)		A national-conservative party which is sceptical of Georgia's attempts to join the EU and NATO. The party supports more balanced foreign policy with Russia. It strongly opposes UNM and proposed to ban it on the ground that it ran "criminal regime in Georgia during 2003-2012", namely appealing to documented torture in prisons during the UNM's years. UNM has described APG as "GD's satellite".
Georgian Labour Party	1995	19,314 (1.00%)		Founded by Shalva Natelashvili, one of the oldest but also minor parties
Girchi - More Freedom	2020	Then a part of Girchi.		A right-libertarian party founded by Zura Japaridze after leaving New Political Center - Girchi.
Droa	2021	Then a part of European Georgia.		A socially liberal party founded by former UNM minister Elene Khoshtaria.
Regions for Georgia		Then a part of European Georgia	Tariel Nakaidze	A party founded by Muslim Georgian MP Tariel Nakaidze, aimed at promoting the political rights of ethnic minorities.
Ahali		Then a part of UNM		A split from the United National Movement, founded by its former chairman Nika Melia after the latter lost his reelection for the chairmanship of the party, along with Nika Gvaramia.

Parties with local representation

The following parties have no nationwide representation but have elected officials at the local level.


Logo	Name	Ideology	Year founded	Seats held in	Leader	Note
	For the People		2021			A centre-left party founded by former government official Anna Dolidze, not associated previously with any other party.
	Free Georgia		2010			Founded by former Conservative Party member Kakha Kukava.

Small parties

The following parties have no elected official but took part in the 2021 local elections.


Name	Ideology	Year founded	Leader
Mamuli		1993	Teimuraz Bobokhidze
Nation		1989	Mirian Mirianashvili
Alliance of Democrats		2021	Giorgi Buchukuri
SAKHE +		2020	Ednar Bagrationi
Free Choice - New Alternative		2018	Giorgi Pataridze
Left-Wing Alliance		2013	Ioseb Shatberashvili
Tribuna		2020	Davit Chichinadze
Our United Georgia		2021	Isaki Giorgadze
Third Way		2021	Giorgi Tumanishvili
European Democrats		2005	Paata Davitaia
Sakartvelo	Reformism Georgian nationalism Euroscepticism Caucasian federalism	2016	Giorgi Liluashvili
Snap Elections - United Georgia - Democratic Movement		2008	Nino Burjanadze
Future Georgia		2008	Giorgi Laghidze
Social Justice		2020	Mamuka Tuskadze
Greens Party		1989	Gia Gachechiladze
Tamaz Mechiauri for United Georgia		2016	Vacant
Reformers		2014	Davit Mirotadze
Whites		2012	Teimuraz Shashiashvili
New Christian-Democrats		2021	Gogi Tsulaia
Reformer		2020	Tornike Janashvili
Tavisupleba - Zviad Gamsakhurdias Gza		2004	Malkhazi Gorgasalidze
Georgian Troupe		2007	Jondi Baghaturia
Socialist Workers' Party		1999	Tamaz Japoshvili
People's Party		2006	Alexandre Kobaidze
Georgian Social-Democratic Party		1989	Avtandil Veltauri

The following parties registered but failed ballot access in the 2021 local elections.


Name	Year founded	Leader
XX Century	2021	Grigol Oniani
Party of Georgian Unity	1990	Giorgi Chincharauli
Free Democrats	2009	Tamar Kekenadze
Green Earth	2020	Nugzar Meladze
For Justice	2019	Eka Beselia
Georgia's Euro-Atlantic Way	2020	Shorena Gardapkhadze

The following parties have no elected official but took part in the 2020 parliamentary election.


Name	Ideology	Year founded	Leader	2020 results
Zviad's Way (For God, Justice, and Country)		1990	Vacant	1,563 (0.08%)
Social-Democrats for Georgia's Development		2010	Gia Zhorzholiani	4,413 (0.23%)
New Power		2020	Lazare Zakariadze	1,458 (0.08%)
Georgian Roots	Georgian nationalism Diaspora repatriation	2020	Tengiz Okropilashvili	1,914 (0.1%)
Political Movement of Veterans of the Armed Forces and Patriots of Georgia		2007	Gia Berdzenidze	3,245 (0.17%)
Change Georgia		2020	Giorgi Gagnidze	1,292 (0.07%)
Conservative Party		2001		3,124 (0.16%)
Patriotic Order - Homeland		2001	Grigoli Sokhadze	583 (0.03%)
Choice for Homeland		2020	Lela Guledani	536 (0.03%)
National Democratic Movement		2014	Davit Shukakidze	4,850 (0.25%)
Movement for a Free Georgia		2018	Khatuna Koiava	739 (0.04%)
Georgian Choice		2020	Bezhan Gunava	2,165 (0.11%)
Our Georgia - Solidarity Alliance		2020		8,335 (0.43%)
Georgian Idea		2014	Levan Chachua	8,263 (0.43%)
Georgian March		2017		4,753 (0.25%)
Progressive Georgia		2020	Irakli Murtskhvaladze	980 (0.05%)
Euro-Atlantic Vector		2011	Sergo Javakhidze	424 (0.02%)
Christian-Democratic People's Movement		2020	Ani Rekhviashvili	334 (0.02%)
Georgia's Development		2020	Ketevan Gogoladze	1,549 (0.08%)
Traditionalists		1989		479 (0.02%)
Industry Will Save Georgia		1999		1,048 (0.05%)

The following parties registered but failed ballot access in the 2020 parliamentary election.


Name	Year founded	Leader
Political League of Georgian Highlanders	1988	Gela Pitskhelauri
Party of Georgian National Unity	1988	Giorgi Chincharauli
Voice of Mother, Voice of Nation	2009	Nina Kvesadze
New	2016	Giorgi Lemonjava
National-Christian Party for Georgia	1999	Davit Khomasuridze
Consolidation Party of Georgian Citizens	1998	Erekle Ivelashvili
Friendship Union, Independence and Prosperity	1998	Shota Mebuke
Georgian Conservative Monarchist Party	1989	Temur Zhorzholiani
Christian-Conservative Party	1997	Shota Malashkhia
Party of Georgian Unity and Development	2020	Kamal Muradkhanov
Union for Protection of the Georgian Pensioners' Right	1997	Irakli Natsvlishvili
Unity of Iberians	2019	Giorgi Tsiptauri
Unity of Georgian Nationalists	1991	Gaioz Mamaladze

The following parties have not taken part in the last two election cycles but maintain an active organization.


Name	Year founded	Leader
Greens Party	1989	Giorgi Gachechiladze
Rustavel's Path	2023	Akia Barbakadze
Greens	2022	Tamar Jakeli
Ilia Chavchavadze Society	1987	Tamar Chkheidze
Unified Communist Party of Georgia	1994	Nugzar Avaliani

Historical parties

Held national offices

The following parties held at least one legislative seat since 1990, but have ceased to exist.


Party	Years active	Note
Round Table—Free Georgia	1990-1994	An alliance of Georgian political parties led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia. It played a decisive role in the restoration of independence of Georgia and was a governing coalition in 1990-1992.
National Forum	2006-2017	Radical political party led by Kakha Shartava and in the opposition in 2006–2012. Part of the ruling coalition in 2012–2016. Absorbed by the Development Movement in 2017.
New Rights	2001-2019	One of the largest opposition parties, formed in 2001 as the New Conservative Party by uniting the New Faction, New Movement, and Neo-Conservative Union. A member of several opposition blocks, including the 2004 Right Opposition, the 2008 United Opposition, and the 2018 Strength is in Unity. Absorbed by Lelo for Georgia in 2019.
Christian-Democratic Movement	2008-2018	Opposition party with seats in the 2008-2012 Parliament. Party has never been disbanded but it has not had any activity since the 2018 presidential election.
Democratic Union for Revival	1991-2004	Originally known as the Adjaran Union for the Rebirth of Georgia, one of the largest opposition parties in the 1990s. Held control of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic and led by Aslan Abashidze. Party disbanded when the latter fled Georgia in 2004.
For a New Georgia	2003-2008	Created during the 2003 parliamentary election to back Eduard Shevardnadze after the collapse of the Citizens' Union. The party ceased to function after the Rose Revolution but kept 19 MPs until 2008.
Union of Citizens of Georgia	1993-2003	Ruling party from 1993 to 2003. Led by President Eduard Shevardnadze. Abolished in 2003 ahead of the parliamentary election and replaced by For a New Georgia.
Socialist Party	1995-2003	Formed as an opposition party and integrated into an alliance with the Democratic Union for Revival during the 1999 parliamentary election. Stopped functioning following the Rose Revolution.
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia Society	1992-2003	Formed as an opposition party and integrated into an alliance with the Democratic Union for Revival during the 1999 parliamentary election. Stopped functioning following the Rose Revolution.
Georgian Freedom and Unity Movement	1992-2003	Formed as an opposition party and integrated into an alliance with the Democratic Union for Revival during the 1999 parliamentary election. Stopped functioning following the Rose Revolution.
Union of Reformers and Agrarians	1992-1999	Part of the National Accord electoral bloc in 1995 and won one seat in Parliament. It ceased its activities after failing to win reelection in 1999.
Union of Sportsmen of Georgia	1994-2008	Part of the National Accord electoral bloc in 1995 and won one seat in Parliament. Failed to win reelection in 1999 and ceased its activities after a poor showing in the 2008 parliamentary election. Founded by infamous thief-in-law Otari Kvantrishvili.
Support	1994-1999	Led by State Minister Otar Patsatsia as a party officially supporting Eduard Shevardnadze, though backing more center-right politics than the Citizens' Union.
Democratic Union of Georgia	1991-1998	Founded by several former Soviet dissidents, including Avtandil Margiani and Zurab Tsereteli. Part of the ruling coalition in 1992 and won three seats in the 1995 parliamentary election. Ceased its activities following the 1999 parliamentary election.
Lemi	1995-1999	Regional party based in Svaneti and chaired by MP Tengiz Gazdeliani, who also served in the ruling coalition since 1992. Gazdeliani was its only elected leader and the party disbanded in 1999.
Bourgeois-Democratic Party	1992-1996	Founded ahead of the 1992 parliamentary election as the political branch of the civil society organization League of Economic and Social Progress of Georgia and joined the Peace Bloc that endorsed the candidacy of Eduard Shevardnadze, winning two seats in Parliament.
People's Front	1989-1999	Formed as one of the largest anti-Soviet organizations by Nodar Natadze. Opposed to the presidencies of Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Eduard Shevardnadze. Won 16 seats in the 1992 parliamentary election as part of the "11 October Bloc". Disappeared following the 1999 election.
Christian-Democratic Union	1989-1999	Opposed to the presidency of Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Won 3 seats in the 1992 parliamentary election as part of the opposition "11 October Bloc" but eventually endorsed Eduard Shevardnadze in 1995. Disappeared following the 1999 election.
Union of Social Justice	1990-1999	Won 2 seats in the 1992 parliamentary election. Disappeared following the 1999 election.
Liberal-Democratic National Party	1990-1997	Won 14 seats in the 1992 parliamentary election as part of the Unity Bloc, the only party to win seats from that coalition. Originally in opposition to President Eduard Shevardnadze, it endorsed him in the 1995 presidential election and disappeared shortly thereafter.
Democratic Party	1991-1998	Won 10 seats in the 1992 parliamentary election and only one in the 1995 elections. Absorbed by the Socialist Party in 1998.
Charter-91	1991-2019	Formed as one of the leading members of the Round Table ruling coalition that backed Zviad Gamsakhurdia and continued activities as an opposition party during the presidency of Eduard Shevardnadze. Won 9 seats in 1992, but failed to win reelection in 1995. The party then became mostly inactive, until its absorption by the Republican Party in 2019.
Merab Kostava Society	1990-1999	One of Georgia's earlier political parties, originally part of the Round Table - Free Georgia coalition that backed the presidency of Zviad Gamsakhurdia and joined the opposition to President Eduard Shevardnadze. Won 7 seats in the 1992 elections and one seat in 1995. After failing to win any position in 1999, the party ceased all activities.
National Independence Party	1988-2006	One of Georgia's earlier political parties, founded by dissident Irakli Tsereteli and regularly associated with right-wing, monarchist, and conservative parties. While it won seats in the 1990 and 1992 parliamentary elections, its activities were largely discontinued after 1995. Its leader, Irakli Tsereteli, was arrested in 2006 for supporting guerrilla partisans in the Kodori Valley.
Union of Farmers of All Georgia	1987-1999	Won two seats in the 1992 parliamentary election. Ceased all activities after 1999.
Helsinki Union of Georgia	1976-1993	Oldest political party in post-Soviet Georgia, created as a group of anti-Soviet dissidents by Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Part of the Round Table - Free Georgia electoral alliance that led Georgia to independence in 1991. Lost power as a result of the 1991-1992 coup, after which the party has formally boycotted all electoral activities.

Small, defunct parties

The defunct following parties have not held nationwide offices but received considerable media coverage.


Name	Years active	Leader
The Way of Georgia	2006-2019	Salome Zurabishvili
Development Movement	2017-2019	Davit Usupashvili
Party of the Future	2008-2012	Giorgi Maisashvili
Party of Hope	2006	Igor Giorgadze Irina Sarishvili

Democratic Republic of Georgia

The following parties were active during the 1918-1921 Democratic Republic of Georgia.


Name	Ideology		Results in the 1919 election
Social Democratic Labour Party of Georgia			409,766 (80.96%)
Georgian Socialist-Federalist Revolutionary Party			33,721 (6.66%)
National Democratic Party			30,754 (6.08%)
Socialist-Revolutionary Party of Georgia			21,453 (4.24%)
Radical-Democratic Party of Georgia			3,107 (0.61%)
Armenian Party in Georgia–Dashnaktsitiuni			2,353 (0.46%)
Left Socialist-Federalist Party			1,616 (0.32%)
Georgian National Landowners Party			1,532 (0.30%)
Russian Social Democratic Labour Party			779 (0.15%)
Group of Muslims from Borchalo District			77 (0.02%)
National Council of Muslims			60 (0.01%)
Aesthetic League of Patriots			53 (0.01%)
Shota Rustaveli Group			51 (0.01%)
Democratic Group of Georgian Hellenes			14 (0.00%)

Banned or deregistered parties

The following parties are currently banned or deregistered.

Communist Party of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia - banned in 1991.
Centrists Party - in 2016.^[1]
Conservative Movement - in 2024.^[2]
Georgian Idea - in 2024.^[3]

Political camps based on foreign policy orientation

Civilizational and geostrategic orientations play a significant role in Georgian politics. They often determine political groupings and are more important than economic or socio-political agendas for the parties. Main civilizational and geostrategic debate in Georgia revolves around siding with the West or Russia. Based on their foreign policy orientations, Georgian political parties can be divided into several camps:

This group of parties supports Euro-Atlanticism and opposes any rapprochement towards Russia. They claim that the West is "civilizational choice" of Georgian people and that Georgia should join the EU and NATO. They view Russia as the biggest, imperialistic threat to Georgia and argue that the only way for Georgia to survive is to join EU and NATO, in other case, they claim that Georgia will be annexed by Russia. They consider that no negotiation with Russia is possible as Russia is imperialistic and its only goal is to subjugate former Soviet Union. Therefore, because of this, they argue that any political position which does not supports uncompromising pro-Western and anti-Russian policy, benefits Russia and is therefore pro-Russian. This group of parties considers all their opponents on foreign policy matters to be pro-Russian, whether they actually support Russia or not.^[4]

This group includes following parties: United National Movement, For Georgia, Progress and Freedom, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Lelo for Georgia, European Georgia, Girchi — More Freedom, Droa, Law and Justice, Republican Party, Citizens, State for the People, National Democratic Party, For the People, Victorious Georgia

This group of parties also shares the view that Russia is the greatest threat to Georgia and considers joining EU and NATO as foreign policy priorities. They also claim that the alignment with the West is civilizational choice of Georgian people. However, they argue that the reality of Russia being the large and powerful neighbor of Georgia can not be ignored and Georgia's foreign policy should be shaped based on this reality. Georgia, as other small states, must play sophisticated games with its large and powerful neighbor in order to survive in such environment. They often appeal to national interests, claiming that maintaining some ties with Russia, such as economic relations, is beneficial to Georgia because of Russia's proximity and economic resources. Therefore, domestic and foreign policies of Georgia in these areas should be shaped by interests rather than ideological notions. They say that Georgia's policy towards Russia should be pragmatic, flexible and cautious. They usually condemn Russia politically, but have relatively soft rhetoric compared to first group of parties - they claim that too radical and uncompromising policy towards Russia can lead to confrontation with Russia, which will have dire consequences for Georgia. These parties oppose imposing visa regime for Russian citizens, ban on Russian tourists visiting Georgia, banning capital flow from Russia etc. - claiming that such actions don't reflect Georgian interests and will harm Georgian economy and Georgian citizens. These parties fully support Georgia's membership into EU and NATO, but maybe sometimes critical of these organizations when they feel that certain policies contradict Georgia's interests.

This group includes following parties: Georgian Dream, People's Power, Girchi, European Socialists, Social Democrats for the Development of Georgia, Greens Party, Democratic Movement – United Georgia,

This group of parties, on the other hand, although does not necessarily opposes Georgia's membership in the EU, argues that Georgia should reorient its foreign policy towards building friendly relations with Russia. They claim that the only way Georgia can restore its sovereignty over Abkhazia and South Ossetia is to normalize its relations with Russia. They oppose Georgia's proposed membership in the NATO, saying that it provokes Russia to engage into hostilities with Georgia. This group thinks that successful negotiation with Russia is possible, and often blames the Saakashvili administration for pursuing pro-NATO foreign policy which led to the strained relations with Moscow. They claim that Georgia should be "neutral country", which they think reflects Georgian interests better than pro-NATO foreign orientation. Although this group does not vehemently opposes Georgia’s membership in the EU, they do not view it possible in the foreseeable future and oppose certain (mosly liberal) EU policies, which they claim are incompatible with Georgian culture and traditions.

This group includes following parties: Alliance of Patriots, Georgian Troupe, Christian-Democrats, Left-wing alliance, Georgian March, Political Movement of Veterans and Patriots, Industry Will Save Georgia

This group of parties supports full alignment with Russia and views the West as a primary threat to the country. They support joining Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization and claim that allying with Christian Russia is a civilization choice of Georgian people. They support Russian military presence in Georgia and view the West, which they equate with the liberal ideology, which is anti-Christian, pro-LGBT, pro-immigration and cosmopolitan, as the greatest threat to Georgian culture and national identity. They also are skeptical towards Western involvement in Georgia, claiming that the West uses Georgia only for its own purposes to "encircle" Russia and weaken it by provoking its neighbors to wage war with it.

This group includes following parties: Conservative Movement/Alt-Info, Georgian Idea, Unity of Iberians

Notes and References

News: Party Stripped Of Registration For Georgian Parliamentary Elections Amid 'Pro-Russia' Outcry. Radio Freedom. 18 August 2016. 11 September 2022.
News: Georgia's Public Registry revokes registration of controversial Conservative Movement. Front News Georgia. 8 April 2024. 11 April 2024.
Web site: Georgia’s Alt Info to run in elections with Alliance of Patriots . OC Media . 11 June 2024 .
Book: Silagadze . Givi . Eurosceptic, therefore, Pro-Russian? . 2021 . Georgian Institute of Politics . Tbilisi, Georgia . 15 September 2012.