Georgian ruling party files constitutional claim to ban three opposition parties

Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, together with allied political groups, has submitted a constitutional complaint seeking to declare three opposition parties unconstitutional and ban their activities. The announcement was made by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili during a plenary session on Tuesday. 

The Speaker said the claim was based on the findings of a parliamentary temporary investigative commission and targets parties that, in the majority’s assessment, “have formed a coalition entity with unified objectives” and continue to act jointly:

Unity – United National Movement
Coalition for Change – Gvaramia, Melia, Girchi, Droa
Strong Georgia – Lelo, For the People, For Freedom

Papuashvili said that additional small or formally separate parties - such as Elene Khoshtaria – Droa and Girchi – More Freedom, as well as Strategy Agmashenebeli, European Georgia, the Federalist Party, the Republican Party, and others - were considered politically connected to the groups. However, he noted that a ban on those organizations was “not necessary at this stage,” citing their limited influence and lack of realistic prospects of crossing the electoral threshold. Their status may be reviewed in the future if their political impact increases.

The Speaker also said that the ruling party was not requesting the termination of mandates for representatives elected under the name of banned parties. Currently, this would apply only to 59 municipal council members elected under the banner of Lelo. He said this approach intended to respect the will of their voters, contrasting with what he called Lelo’s decision to refuse its parliamentary mandates following elections.

Papuashvili added that the complaint also did not contain provisions restricting the political activities of individuals affiliated with the targeted parties. He noted that existing legal mechanisms, such as the “successor party” framework, already allow measures to prevent unconstitutional political behaviour should banned groups attempt to reconstitute themselves.