Georgian PM: October elections “choice between dark past and bright future” for country

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia and Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party's election staff, on Saturday described the upcoming general elections on October 26 as a “referendum” for the Georgian people to decide “between the dark past and the bright future” of the country.

“Dignity brings peace, peace brings prosperity, and prosperity leads to Georgia's bright, European future. We must recognise once again that the October 26 elections are a referendum where the Georgian people must choose between war or peace, dependence on external forces or state independence, immoral propaganda or traditional values, and the dark past or Georgia's bright future”, the PM stressed. 

Speaking at an election campaign event in Telavi, located in Georgia's eastern Kakheti region, the PM expressed confidence that “Kakheti and all of Georgia will choose peace, independence, and traditional values”, emphasising the choice was one that “has no alternative”.

“Kakheti has always been, is, and will be a symbol of how to fight and work hard to protect and preserve the identity and traditions of your homeland”, he noted.

The PM also announced plans to erect a monument to King Erekle II, who was born in the Kakheti province and succeeded in uniting eastern Georgia for the first time in three centuries, in capital Tbilisi, and remarked the monument would serve as a reminder to “both enemies and friends that Georgia will never give up its identity, language, and religion”.

During his speech, the PM highlighted the “historical significance” of the Kakheti region, pointing out its residents had fought in “numerous wars” to defend “faith and peace”.

Kobakhidze also credited Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s founder and Honorary Chairman, for the country's achievements, describing him as the person who “put the bloody regime in the past and brought about a democratic transition in Georgia”. He further added that Ivanishvili was the “main guarantor of state independence, peace, and the country’s development”.

In his remarks, the PM characterised the former United National Movement Government, which ruled until 2012, as a political force embodying “authoritarianism of foreign agents” and accused it of committing numerous crimes against the Georgian state and people.

“[...] These crimes included establishing authoritarianism, the murder and torture of individuals, business racketeering, the seizure of television stations, and rigging elections”, he said, emphasising the “treacherous crime” of the UNM had led to the loss of 20 percent of the country's territories in 2008.

Shifting focus to the achievements of the ruling party, the PM outlined the progress made since 2012, when the GD came to power, and highlighted a series of accomplishments. He also noted the GD administration was the “only Government since Georgia's independence to avoid a war”.