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Georgia

Advancing Democracy in Georgia

Political Party Development

One of the crucial elements in promoting the establishment of a functioning democracy in Georgia is the existence of well-organized and stable political parties. After the "Rose Revolution," all major political parties, except those comprising the new government in Georgia, lost credibility with the electorate and discovered the need to develop their organizations from the ground up.

The parties now face a new political reality in which new parties and coalitions have joined together. Many parties are still defining their relationship with the new government and navigate in the new political environment. IRI is assisting Georgian parties with training on message development, strategy, management and grassroots organizational development.

The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) efforts have led many political parties to establish their own strategic party plans, party activities, party ideology as well as independently run training centers and campaign academies for regional party members. Some parties also developed local chapters and held party elections to outline the specific roles and responsibilities of its leaders.

Public Opinion Polling

A critical component of developing a party plan is the ability to accurately gauge the political sentiment within the electorate. Political parties may themselves conduct many forms of research needed to formulate a party plan, such as demographic research and opposition research. However, in order to accurately assess opinions of the electorate, it is necessary to incorporate the use of public opinion polls into the party plan and message development process.

IRI is conducting a series of public opinion surveys to track the opinions of the electorate. When each poll is completed, IRI meets with the political party leaders to share the results. IRI's goal is that through consultations on polling data and analyses, Georgian political parties will learn how to use the information from such a poll to conduct more effective political campaigns. In addition, IRI shares its polling analyses with the government of Georgia to assist it in managing expectations and identifying important areas of policy reform.

A significant number of campaign managers in the 2005 parliamentary by-election were not only trained by IRI, but also used the polling data in formulating their campaign strategy and developing their party platforms.

Youth Party Building

IRI works with all relevant political parties to promote youth participation in their parties. IRI encourages the creation of viable political entities that stand independently from their parent organizations. Through day-to-day consultations, IRI assists youth organizations determine their role and influence with the political party structure.

Another aspect of IRI's youth work is the facilitation of youth party building exchanges between youth leaders in Georgia and youth leaders from neighboring countries. The purpose of the exchanges is to allow youth leaders from other countries to work directly with their Georgian counterparts to obtain practical information on successful youth party building techniques and how to run successful political campaigns.

As a result of IRI's efforts, numerous political parties organized youth organizations and chapters within their respective party. Some parties opened youth party offices on a regional basis. Together with these local chapters, IRI conducted seminars throughout Georgia with the goal of developing a grassroots network of youth activists.

Women's Program

IRI assists in the advancement of women's issues by conducting consultations with local representatives from women's nongovernmental organizations as well as female candidates for municipal government. These consultations are designed to encourage women to take an active role in the political process.

IRI’s women’s program prepared for the 2006 municipal elections by training women in effective campaigning. IRI also hosted women's political seminars around the country for groups that focused on the fundamentals of political campaign training including strategy, planning, tactics and media relations. More than 150 IRI-trained women ran for municipal office in the October 5, 2006 elections.


Georgia's Road to Democracy

After a troubled period of civil war following independence, Georgia emerged as one of the more progressive countries of the former Soviet Republics. Political stability and a strong commitment to democracy, led by President Eduard Shevardnadze, began with the adoption of a new constitution in August 1995 and the election of a pro-reform parliament in November 1995. The first-ever local elections in November 1998, the 1999 parliamentary and 2000 presidential elections further demonstrated Georgia's commitment to the development of democracy.

Following the 2000 election, Georgia's democratic process slowed as corruption in the government became more prevalent. The morale of the Georgian citizens began to wane as pensions were not paid and the lack of gas and electricity left them cold in the winter. These events gave the opposition parties a stronger voice as it became apparent that President Shevardnadze only had limited control of the things that were happening in his government.

The November 2, 2003 parliamentary elections were marred by blatant voting irregularities. In response, the people of Georgia took to the streets of Tbilisi, led by Mikheil Saakashvili, in what is now called the "Rose Revolution" and forced President Shevardnadze to resign. As a result of the January 4, 2004 presidential election, Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the National Movement-United Democrats coalition, was elected by an overwhelming majority. He won on the promises of attacking corruption, improving the economic situation and restoring Georgia's territorial integrity.

During 2006, Georgia held its first ever nationwide school board elections which gave communities a voice in the future education of their children. Additionally, on October 5, 2006, the country held regional municipal elections as well as electing the mayor of Tbilisi, the capital. These elections helped further institutionalize democratic practices in Georgia and continued to build upon the success of the Rose Revolution.

As Georgians continue to implement democratic reforms and anti-corruption programs they will face growing challenges including an economic blockade enforced by Russia and the status of the separatist regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.


Publications and Program Highlights

04/2008

Election Observation Report: 2008 Presidential Election (Georgian version)

Winter/Spring 2008

IRI Election Monitors Assist Electoral Process in Ukraine, Kenya and Georgia, p.2, Advancing Democracy

01/06/2008

Georgia's Election Broadly Meets International Standards

12/20/2007

IRI to Monitor Georgian Presidential Election

11/08/2007

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, August 31-September 10, 2007

Summer/Fall 2007

Democratic Reforms Continue in Georgia, p. 9, Advancing Democracy

05/08/2007

Georgian Speaker Meets with IRI

04/04/2007

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, February 8-16, 2007

07/03/2006

IRI Co-hosts Georgian President Saakashvili

04/2006

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, April 8-19, 2006

10/2005

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, October 18-30, 2005

06/2005

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, May 26-June 10, 2005

02/04/2005

IRI President Member of U.S. Delegation to Georgian Prime Minister's Funeral

11/2004

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, October 20-November 3, 2004

06/2004

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, June 11-21, 2004

02/13/2004

IRI Launches Get-Out-The-Vote Campaign

02/2004

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, February 11-17, 2004

11/03/2003

IRI Statement on the Georgian Parliamentary Elections

05/2003

Survey of Georgian Public Opinion, May 2003

07/12/2002

IRI Sponsors Campaign Academy

Georgia Flag
Georgia Map

Political Overview

Head of Government: President Mikheil Saakashvili

Type of Government: republic

Suffrage: universal, age 18

Elections Calendar

Program Overview

Focus of Program: youth initiatives and political party building

Funding Source: United States Agency for International Development

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