UNM unveils party reform plan centered on digital voting, horizontal governance

Georgia's opposition United National Movement has announced plans to overhaul its internal governance, proposing a digital membership platform and a shift to what party leaders describe as a horizontal decision-making model aimed at increasing member participation.

Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday, UNM Deputy Secretary General Irakli Pavlenishvili said the party had developed a concrete reform model to modernize its structure.

“We have a specific model for transforming our party into a fully modern political organization with greater public participation and stronger internal democracy,” Pavlenishvili said.

He said the reform would be built around a mobile application available to all party members, allowing them to participate directly in key decisions.

According to Pavlenishvili, members would be able to vote in the selection of national and regional leaders, help shape electoral lists and participate in decision-making on major party issues.

“It is very important that this will not be a bureaucratic model but one based on horizontal governance,” he said.

UNM leader Anna Tsitlidze said the proposed reform aims to place party members at the center of the decision-making process.

“The main goal of the reform is to fully transition the party to a system of horizontal governance with the maximum possible involvement of party members. This is what a modern democratic party should look like,” Tsitlidze said.

She said members would participate through a dedicated electronic platform, enabling them to vote not only on the election of party executives and leadership positions but also on broader strategic decisions.

“Party members will become decision-makers, not merely participants. They will also be initiators and leaders themselves,” Tsitlidze said.