Georgian PM defends ruling party candidate selections for local elections, points to opposition's ‘disconnect from public values’

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has defended the ruling Georgian Dream party’s approach to selecting majoritarian candidates for the upcoming municipal elections, citing “competence, qualifications, and integrity as the core criteria.” 

He also took aim at the opposition, accusing it of failing to present candidates who “reflect the values of Georgian society.”

Speaking to journalists at the Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery on Friday, where he participated in commemorations marking the 17th anniversary of the 2008 war, Kobakhidze described the ruling party’s candidates as “socially active individuals with deep experience and strong ties to the city.”

“The selection criteria for majoritarian candidates, as always, are qualification, competence, and integrity,” Kobakhidze said. “Each candidate has been chosen based on these essential criteria. They are people who are active in society, have significant experience, and genuinely care about our city.”

He criticised the opposition, describing its internal state as fragmented and out of step with public sentiment.

“It’s a fact that the radical opposition has a wide pool of candidates, but still fails to select even one who reflects society’s values to any meaningful degree,” he claimed. “This situation is, on one hand, advantageous [for us], but on the other hand, it paints a tragic picture of today’s opposition.”

Kobakhidze also addressed questions about whether the government would engage in cooperation with Russia regarding the potential transfer of Aleko Elisashvili, an opposition leader who participated in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“We have a constitutional obligation to protect our citizens everywhere and at all times, regardless of our personal views about them,” he said. “We will defend our citizens wherever they may be - nothing else matters.”