Former Prime Minister and the Chairman of the For Georgia party, Giorgi Gakharia, has expressed his readiness to face the founder of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, in the political arena. Ivanishvili, who had retired from politics in January 2023, announced his comeback as the honorary chairman of his party on December 30, 2023.
Gakharia: No More Hiding for Ivanishvili
Gakharia, who had resigned from his post as Prime Minister in February 2023 over a disagreement with Georgian Dream on the arrest of the opposition leader Nika Melia, reacted to Ivanishvili’s return with a defiant tweet. He wrote: “Good to see Ivanishvili finally managed to come out of his hiding. Excuses were weak. Challenge accepted. Happy New Year!”
Gakharia, who formed his own party For Georgia in May 2023, has been critical of Ivanishvili’s influence on Georgian politics and accused him of betraying the country and the team. He also claimed that Ivanishvili was behind the decision to arrest Melia, the chairman of the United National Movement, which sparked a political crisis in the country.
Ivanishvili: Gakharia Betrayed the Country and the Team
Ivanishvili, who had founded Georgian Dream in 2012 and led it to victory in two parliamentary elections, decided to quit politics in January 2023, saying that he had fulfilled his mission and that the party was strong and stable. He also said that he would distance himself from the party and the government and would not interfere in their decisions.
However, he changed his mind after Gakharia’s resignation and the ensuing political turmoil. He said that he had to take on the function of an advisor to the party leaders and help them maintain a healthy situation in the team. He also blamed Gakharia for betraying the country and the team and causing damage to the state interests.
In his statement on December 30, 2023, Ivanishvili also revealed that he had met with the US Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, on March 21, 2023, at her request. He said that the meeting lasted for about three hours and that they discussed various issues, including the threat of war, the judicial reform, and the electoral system. He also said that he had informed the ambassador about his intention to return to politics as the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream.
The Political Future of Georgia
The return of Ivanishvili to politics has raised questions about the political future of Georgia, which is facing multiple challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, the territorial conflicts, and the democratic reforms. Ivanishvili’s comeback is seen by some as a sign of his dissatisfaction with the current leadership of Georgian Dream and his desire to regain control over the party and the government. On the other hand, Gakharia’s challenge is seen by some as a sign of his ambition to become the main opposition force and the alternative to Georgian Dream.
The political rivalry between Ivanishvili and Gakharia is expected to intensify in the coming months, as Georgia prepares for the local elections in October 2024. The elections will be a test for the popularity and the performance of both Georgian Dream and For Georgia, as well as other political parties. The outcome of the elections will also have implications for the presidential election in 2025, which will be the first one under the new constitutional system that grants more powers to the parliament and the prime minister.
