Fragmentation among Georgia’s opposition reflects how hastily blocs were formed

TBILISI, DFWatch–One of Georgia’s four opposition blocs appears to be unraveling, exposing the improvisational nature of alliances formed ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. As analysts note, most of these blocs were built less on ideological coherence than on tactical hopes of unseating the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.

The latest crack comes from the “Strong Georgia” bloc, after Ana Dolidze—figurehead of the small party “For the People”—announced on June 7 that she is leaving to become an independent. In a Facebook post, she underlined her party’s pro-EU stance and her wish to strengthen ties with the Party of European Socialists, with an eye to gaining observer status.

Dolidze’s departure highlights the fragility of the opposition blocs. Political analyst Zaal Anjaparidze noted that the blocs were thrown together by individuals and micro-parties with little shared platform except opposition to GD. Their collapse, he argued, was likely once the election passed and the hoped-for election victory failed to materialize.

Others in “Strong Georgia”, including Aleko Elisashvili’s “Citizens”, may also exit as strategies shift ahead of local elections. The pattern echoes across opposition coalitions, many of which include figures with roots in the deeply polarizing United National Movement (UNM), which still alienates a sizable segment of voters.

In the 2024 parliamentary election, four main opposition groupings competed: the Unity – to Save Georgia bloc led by UNM (10.16%), the Coalition for Change (11.04%), the Strong Georgia bloc led by Lelo for Georgia (8.81%), and For Georgia, the party of former PM Giorgi Gakharia (7.77%).

Some parties, such as Giorgi Vashadze’s Strategy Aghmashenebeli party, which is part of the Coalition for Change bloc, now seem to be distancing themselves from UNM. Analysts say the disbanding of loosely formed alliances could ultimately benefit Georgia’s political development, if parties pivot toward building more authentic platforms that resonate with voters.