Two opposition parties decide to participate in Georgia’s upcoming elections, triggering resignations

TBILISI, DFWatch–Tensions are escalating within Georgia’s opposition as two parties declared they will participate in the upcoming local elections on October 4.

The decision by the parties For Georgia, led by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, and Lelo – Strong Georgia have have triggered resignations, internal divisions, and fierce criticism from opposition groups that have vowed to boycott the vote and urge all other parties and groups to do the same.

Several high-profile members of both parties resigned in protest, arguing that joining elections under current political conditions legitimizes what they see as an authoritarian regime. Critics, including members of the largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), have labeled it as a betrayal to take part in an election now, inlight of the high price paid by people arrested over the course of the last year’s unrest, people they consider political prisoners.

Some analysts believe Lelo may reconsider its position if more members defect, while others say the party’s leadership is unlikely to reverse course after committing to the race. Political scientist Ramaz Sakvarelidze argues that electoral boycotts rarely succeed and that opposition groups gain more by competing than withdrawing.

Meanwhile, a debate continues about the opposition’s long-term strategy. Lelo representatives maintain that elections offer an avenue for protest and that refusing to participate would only benefit the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.

But UNM leader Ana Tsitlidze denounced Lelo’s decision as a “betrayal” and accused the party of participating in what she called a Russian-style “special operation” aimed at dividing the opposition.