TI Georgia survey: how many majoritarian candidates own businesses?

A survey carried out by Transparency International Georgia says that almost half of majoritarian candidates presented by parties in the October 31 parliamentary elections are business owners or are connected with business activities. 

The elections this month will be held in a different manner, with 120 MPs elected per the party-list based electoral system and the remaining 30 per the majoritarian electoral model. 

• How much have political parties spent on commercials, ads ahead of the October 31 elections?

Georgian Dream ruling party

19 of 30 majoritarian candidates nominated by the Georgian Dream have business interests, says the survey. 

• Ruling party reveals its 30 majoritarian candidates for Tbilisi and regions

The 19 candidates are connected with 186 companies in total. 

14 of the 30 candidates have contributed 740,826 GEL to the ruling party between 2012 and 2020. 

The majoritarian candidates, their family members and business partners have contributed 3,702,826 GEL to Georgian Dream between 2012 and 2020. 

The ruling party presented all its majoritarian candidates in July. Photo: Georgian Dream press office.

What does the survey say about opposition parties which are expected to receive at least 1 per cent of votes per election polls? 

Opposition bloc United National Movement - United opposition ‘Power is in Unity’ 

The bloc is composed of five parties - UNM, Progress and Freedom, State for People, Republican Party and European Democrats. 

16 of 25 majoritarian candidates nominated by the bloc have business interests and are connected with 113 companies. Half of the 113 companies (56), however, are connected with two majoritarian candidates - Kakhaber Okriashvili and Tsezar Chocheli. 

17 candidates, their family members and business partners have contributed to the United National Movement party 621,987 GEL between 2012 and 2020. 

Top contributors are: Chocheli - 134,000 GEL, Okriashvili - 90,000 GEL, David Kirkitadze (former UNM official) - 77,000 GEL, Nanuka Zhorzholiani (TV anchor) - 62,500 GEL and Khatia Dekanoidze (former UNM official) - 52,000 GEL.

European Georgia 

Seven of 20 majoritarian candidates nominated by the party are businessmen. The candidates are connected with 15 companies

16 candidates, their family members and business partners have contributed 466,818 GEL to the party between 2017-2020, with Giga Bokeria, former UNM official, contributing the most - 147,900 GEL. 

Strategy Builder 

Two majoritarian candidates nominated by the party are connected with four companies and they have contributed the party (as well as their family members) 194,500 GEL so far. 

The opposition nominated joint majoritarian candidates only in the capital. Photo: TI Georgia.

 Alliance of Patriots

14 of 29 majoritarian candidates nominated by the party are engaged in business and are connected with 24 companies. 

Nine majoritarian candidates have contributed 362,530 GEL to the party for the upcoming elections. 

The companies related to the candidates have received 61,172 GEL from state procurements between 2013 and 2020. 

Labour Party 

Three of 10 majoritarian candidates nominated by the party are businessmen and are connected to four companies. 

Seven majoritarian candidates have contributed f41,845 GEL to the party between 2014 and 2020. 

Only three candidates, including the party leader Shalva Natelashvili, are not connected to businesses and have never contributed for the party. 

Aleko Elisashvili - Citizens 

Only two of eight majoritarian candidates nominated by the party are connected to business activities. 

The two candidates are connected with four companies and they have contributed 40,000 GEL to the party. 

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has state that the elections will not be postponed despite the sharp grow of coronavirus cases. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Lelo for Georgia 

14 of 28 majoritarian candidates have been engaged in business and are connected with 73 companies. 

Six candidates, their family members and business partners have contributed 419,950 GEL to Lelo between 2019 and 2020. 

• Ruling Georgian Dream, Lelo‌ top two recipients of September election contributions

The companies related to seven candidates have received 1,156,881 GEL from state procurements and 3,033,996 GEL from int’l donors so far. 

Girchi 

Four of six majoritarian candidates nominated by the party are business owners and are connected with eight companies. 

They have contributed 182,051 GEL for the party so far.