Movement for Liberty - European Georgia

European Georgia (Georgian: ევროპული საქართველო, evropuli sakartvelo) is a political party in Georgia founded in Tbilisi in January 2017, primarily by prominent former members of the United National Movement. The party is chaired by Davit Bakradze.[1]

European Georgia - Movement for Liberty

ევროპული საქართველო - მოძრაობა თავისუფლებისთვის
ChairmanDavit Bakradze
Secretary-GeneralGigi Ugulava
Chairman of the Political CouncilGiga Bokeria
FoundedJanuary 2017 (2017-01)
Split fromUNM
HeadquartersTbilisi Gulia Str. 1
IdeologyConservative liberalism
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-right
European affiliationEuropean People's Party (observer)
International affiliationCentrist Democrat International
Colours  Blue and   Red
Seats in Parliament
5 / 150
Seats In Tbilisi Sakrebulo
3 / 50
Seats In Kutaisi Sakrebulo
2 / 25
Seats In Supreme Council Of Adjara
1 / 21
Website
http://europeangeorgia.ge

History

The party holds seats in the Parliament of Georgia as a result of the 2016 parliamentary election, in which its members ran as part of the opposition United National Movement (UNM). After an internal disagreement, a significant part of the UNM parliamentary caucus and leadership (including Giga Bokeria, Sergi Kapanadze and Elene Khoshtaria) broke away.[2] The breakaway entity took the largely unknown legal vehicle of a previous party whose leadership included Nugzar Tsereteli's own son, Gigi Tsereteli, and had previously run in coalition with the UNM. The breakaway faction in the Parliament initially renamed itself to European Georgia, before choosing the name of Movement for Liberty-European Georgia during a presentation by Davit Bakradze on January 30, 2017. On the same date party leader Gigi Ugulava was named interim secretary general, in place until a party conference could be held.[3][4]

The party held its first convention on May 27, during which they elected Bakradze as chairman of the party, Ugulava as secretary-general, and approved the party's name as European Georgia - Movement for Liberty.[5]

Founding Congress, May 27, 2017

Ideology

The party shares much with the UNM's liberal conservatism, with the main difference between the two being their approach to politics. Among other things, European Georgia has a stronger commitment to contesting rather than boycotting elections.[2] In an interview with the online news website Netgazeti, Giorgi Ugulava distinguished the Movement for Liberty as being more liberal than the UNM, specifically describing the UNM as populist and communitarian.[6]

Election results

Election year votes % of
overall votes
2017 local election 156 232 10.4 (3rd)
2018 presidential election 174 849 10.97 (3rd)
2020 parliamentary election 72 752 3.78 (3rd)


References

  1. "UNM's Parliamentary Faction Changes its Head, Name". Civil Georgia. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  2. Civil.ge (January 12, 2017). "United National Movement Splits". Civil.ge. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  3. Civil.ge (January 30, 2017). "Former UNM Members Unveil Political Plans, Change Party Name". Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  4. http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=29818
  5. "European Georgia Selects Chairman, Secretary General, and Political Council Chair at Convention". Tabula. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  6. http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=29831
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