New Challenges for Old Players

The political situation since 2012 in Georgia has changed after the Georgian Dream coalition (created by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili) came to power.

The elections were won by the coalition and the incumbent UNM government was defeated. Since then, several elections have taken place in Georgia and all of them were assessed as being democratic without any serious violations. The new ruling coalition started to implement democratic approaches with the aim of holding fair elections and leading the country in the right direction.

The UNM (United National Movement) party, meanwhile, spent its time preparing for the next parliamentary election and rallying its supporters. The ruling coalition, under pressure from the International Community, did not overtly punish former government officials and administering what most in the ruling party (and the public) believed to be 'justice'. The population then expressed disappointment in the new Georgian Dream leadership's advocacy of tolerance.

When the UNM lost its position in Georgia, many demanded that the party be banned as a criminal organization. Facts of different instances of injustice were brought to the public's attention, including seizing property, secret surveillance and even murder.

Gradually the UNM started to recover its position, claiming that, the GD coalition began to lose its popular support.

The by-elections conducted in the middle of May showed that Georgian Dream still enjoys the leading position, but it should seriously consider the current moves inside the political body. The coalition is fragmented, as different members - individuals as well as political parties - are leaving it.

Voters have also been lost. Many do not want to go to the polling stations at all. This has created hope for the UNM to come back into power. Some analysts think that tolerance for the parliamentary opposition will be in evidence whichever party wins the election. The chances have appeared for several non- parliament parties as well to enter the legislative body.