Georgian PM claims healthy political system possible through replacement of major opposition parties

In a recent interview with POSTV, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized that a healthy political system in Georgia can only be established if the four main opposition parties—New, United National Movement, Lelo, and former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s party For Georgia—are replaced by authentic political forces.

Kobakhidze criticized these parties, arguing that they operate as a single entity under external control, with a unified agenda that undermines the country’s national interests. “We see no real difference between these four political parties. Their ultimate goal is to execute a so-called ‘rebranding,’ allowing one party to replace another under a different name while preserving the same core agenda,” he stated.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the current political landscape, dominated by these parties, stifles the emergence of a truly representative political system. “Only when these parties are replaced by healthy political forces can a functioning and robust political system take root in Georgia,” he asserted.

Kobakhidze further elaborated on the lack of distinction among the parties, claiming they are all managed from a single center. “This is exactly the same political force with no real differences among them. They uniformly oppose the national interests of our country, complying with any directives they receive,” he added.