Georgia’s opposition landscape remains divided after several parties announced the creation of a new political alliance, while the opposition party Gakharia for Georgia said it would continue operating independently rather than joining the bloc.
Nine opposition groups revealed the new coalition following a meeting in Tbilisi on March 2, presenting it as a coordinated effort to challenge the ruling Georgian Dream party amid an ongoing political crisis.
Parties signing the agreement include Ahali, Girchi – More Freedom, Droa, European Georgia, United National Movement, National Democratic Party, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Freedom Square, and Federalists.
Speaking after the meeting, Ahali leader Nika Gvaramia said the parties had agreed to coordinate their actions while maintaining separate political identities. “We create a unity to win together,” he told journalists, adding that the alliance would focus on common strategy rather than forming a single electoral list.
The parties also released a multi-chapter coordination document outlining their joint political goals and rules for cooperation. The text frames the alliance’s main objective as safeguarding Georgia’s independence and restoring democratic governance.
It calls for the “peaceful dismantling” of what it describes as the “autocratic, criminal regime” of Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, while emphasizing that opposition unity is necessary to mobilize broader public support for political change.
The document argues that meaningful change will occur only “when a large majority of citizens view regime change as being in their vital interest and believe a credible democratic alternative exists.” It identifies peaceful protest and civic mobilization as the primary tools for achieving that goal.
The signatories also committed to a code of conduct covering cooperation principles, equal participation among parties, political responsibility, and fair competition.
Despite the attempt to build unity, several opposition forces remain outside the coalition. Among them is Gakharia for Georgia, founded by former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia after leaving Georgian Dream in 2021.
In a separate statement, the party said it would pursue its own strategy against the government and rejected cooperation with the newly formed alliance.
“We have nothing in common with these parties. We have our own independent path and strategy aimed at weakening the authoritarian rule of Georgian Dream,” the statement said.
The party also criticized previous opposition initiatives, including a parliamentary boycott and the events surrounding October 4, arguing that those actions ultimately benefited the ruling party rather than weakening it.
According to the statement, the developments that followed the boycott campaign were used as political provocations that strengthened the government, while some opposition groups failed to demonstrate sufficient political judgment in their response.
Gakharia for Georgia further said it would avoid political platforms connected to what it described as the “radical political legacy” of the United National Movement and some of its allies.
The alliance comes during continuing political tensions in Georgia, where anti-government protests have persisted for more than a year following the government’s decision to suspend progress toward European Union integration in late 2024.
Opposition parties have long been divided over strategy, including whether to boycott parliament, participate in elections, or prioritize street protests, contributing to a fragmented political landscape.
While the newly announced coalition aims to coordinate opposition actions, the absence of several significant parties underscores the continuing splits within Georgia’s opposition camp as it seeks to challenge the ruling Georgian Dream government.
By Team GT
