Tsotne Ivanishvili calls for dialogue between young people with differing views

Tsotne Ivanishvili, son of the ruling Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chair Bidzina Ivanishvili, has called for open discussion and healthy debate between people with differing political opinions, saying that constructive dialogue helps society arrive at “truth” and stronger positions.

Speaking at a regional conference of the youth organisation of Georgian Dream held in Rustavi, Ivanishvili said that genuine patriotism should enable people to engage in respectful disagreement.

“If two people with different opinions truly and sincerely love their homeland, then they should be able to discuss and debate any issue. Through such polemics, healthy ideas emerge naturally, strong positions are formed and, most importantly, the truth is born,” he said.

Ivanishvili also argued that there is a “false stereotype” in Georgian society suggesting that most young people are strongly opposed to Georgian Dream.

“I think we can all easily agree that today in Georgia there is a false stereotype that the majority of young people are very negatively disposed towards the Georgian Dream,” he said.

He noted that some of his own friends hold radically different views from his, but added that he enjoys debating and speaking with them.

According to Ivanishvili, dialogue between young people is essential in overcoming what he described as “artificially created polarisation” in the country.

During the event, he addressed members of the youth organisation’s board, asking how they envisioned the long-term future of the conference format and whether similar discussions would continue after the planned regional meetings across Georgia.

Ivanishvili welcomed the initiative to hold youth conferences nationwide and said he hoped the format would become a permanent platform for dialogue among young people.