Opposition ‘has no political future’, still driven by external influence, Tbilisi Mayor Kaladze

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has criticised opposition parties, saying they “have no political future” and were responsible for years of harm to the country when they were in power.

His comments came in response to an initiative by the leader of the opposition party Strategy Agmashenebeli Giorgi Vashadze, who announced plans to conduct door-to-door meetings with citizens as part of a nationwide outreach campaign.

Kaladze questioned the purpose of such meetings, arguing that the public already has access to information and is well aware of the political landscape. He said voters can clearly distinguish between political actors and their motivations.

He accused former ruling groups of causing widespread damage during their time in government, claiming they were still influenced by external forces and continued to operate under the same political legacy.

Kaladze further claimed attempts by opposition figures to rebrand themselves or form new parties would not change their political identity or public perception.

He also said opposition movements remained disconnected from national interests and were guided by external instructions, adding that such dynamics, in his view, continued to shape their actions today.

Commenting on planned opposition protests on 26 May, Georgia’s Independence Day, Kaladze said the date should not be used for narrow political purposes, stressing its national significance.