Irakli Kirtskhalia: Georgian Dream’s actual support is at least twice as high

Georgian Dream’s actual level of support is at least twice as high as indicated in a recent International Republican Institute (IRI) survey, parliamentary majority leader and Georgian Dream faction chair Irakli Kirtskhalia said.

Speaking at a briefing at the ruling party’s headquarters, Kirtskhalia commented on the survey results and claimed that the figures attributed to opposition groups had been overstated.

According to Kirtskhalia, a rally held by supporters of former President Mikheil Saakashvili following the publication of the survey demonstrated that even the levels of support recorded for opposition forces in the poll were exaggerated.

“That day showed that IRI had assigned considerably inflated figures to representatives of the collective National Movement, particularly to its main party. I don’t think they were even able to gather 100 people there. The whole thing is ridiculous,” Kirtskhalia said.

Commenting further on the survey, he said its findings had caused “significant disappointment” among what he described as “agent-linked” non-governmental organisations and political groups.

“Believe me, Georgian Dream’s actual result is at least twice as high,” Kirtskhalia said.