PM labels October elections as “decisive referendum” for Georgian people

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia and Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party's election staff, on Thursday described the upcoming general elections on October 26 as a “decisive referendum” for the Georgian people, allowing them to choose between “war or peace, support for immoral propaganda or traditional values, and between the dark past or the bright, European future of Georgia”.

Speaking at an election campaign event in Georgia's Black Sea city of Batumi, Kobakhidze stated the ruling party was committed to enhancing the “beauty and development” of Adjara and its central city of Batumi. He emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and protecting the national interests of the country.

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, adding “along with these heinous crimes, the regime was not distinguished by economic achievements either, and in 2012 the GD Administration inherited the heaviest of them”.

Kobakhidze also pointed out that despite the “challenging legacy”, the Georgian Dream Government was able to “quickly” steer the country's development in the right direction and highlighted the progress made since 2012, when the GD came to power.

He  highlighted a series of accomplishments, adding this was “only an incomplete list” of the achievements and four-year plans of his Government:

• We have boosted the country's economy from ₾28 billion ($10.30bln) to ₾90 billion ($33.09bln), and our programme aims to increase it to ₾130 billion by 2028; 
• Country’s budget was increased from ₾8.5 billion ($3.13bln) [in 2012], to ₾27.8 billion ($10.22bln) this year, while it is projected to exceed ₾40 billion ($14.71bln) by 2028;
• We have halved unemployment. In the past 2.5 years, 170,000 new jobs have been created in the country, and an additional 200,000 new jobs will be created by 2028;
• Average salaries increased from ₾712.5 ($261.98) in 2012 to ₾2,005 ($737.22) this year. According to our plan, the amount will increase to ₾3,500 ($1,287) by 2028;
• Since 2012, 680,000 of our fellow citizens have lifted themselves out of poverty. By 2028, an additional 300,000 people are projected to escape poverty, reducing the rate to below four percent;
• Only in the past 2.5 years, we have attracted $5 billion in foreign direct investments. In the next four years, we aim to attract $9 billion in FDI;
• Before 2012, only 68 km of highways were built. However, after 2012, 300 km of highways were constructed in the country. The construction of the Tbilisi-Batumi highway, connecting the capital city to the Black Sea resort city, is expected to be completed next year, which will reduce the travel time to three hours. Additionally, the construction of the Khulo-Zarzma road, connecting Samtskhe-Javakheti and Adjara regions, will also be completed next year;
• With the support of the state, 700 new enterprises were created, and 800 enterprises were expanded. Over the next four years, the Government will continue to support businesses through various programmes, aiming to create hundreds of new enterprises and 70,000 jobs;
• With the support of the state, agricultural production doubled after 2012. Over the next four years, a total of ₾3 billion ($1.10bln) will be allocated from the state budget for the development of agriculture and the strengthening of the Georgian countryside;
• Tourism is rapidly growing, which is particularly important for Adjara. Our goal is to exceed 11 million visitors and generate over $6.4 billion in tourism revenue by 2028;
• In 2030, Georgia's electricity production will triple compared to 2012, making the country fully self-sufficient in electricity;
• Over ₾2 billion ($740mln) will be allocated for the Municipal l Development Fund, ₾400 million ($147.08mln) for the rural support programme, ₾155 million ($56.99mln) for the Mountain Fund, and ₾200 million ($73.54mln) for the Municipal Transport Programme;
• After 2012, we increased municipal budgets three times, and this growth will continue rapidly in the following years;
• Since 2012, the rate of gasification has tripled, and by next year, 93 percent of the population will have access to natural gas. This number is expected to increase to 95 percent by 2028. State investments in water supply have increased 15-fold. Next year, all cities in the country will have access to 24-hour water supply;
• In public services, the Government head contrasted the number of 12 Public Service Halls across the country with the opening of 109 more venues since the year, with plans to open 12 more between 2024-2025 to complete the project of their expansion;
• Since 2012, we have increased education funding four times. We made kindergartens completely free and introduced a programme for free textbooks. We have completed the construction or rehabilitation of 836 kindergartens across the country and have started the programme for the construction or rehabilitation of 885 kindergartens. Additionally, we have built 174 schools and completed the rehabilitation of over 1,000 schools. In the next four years, we plan to complete the construction and rehabilitation of more than 500 schools;
• Sports funding has increased fourfold, and the results are evident. One of the most visible examples of our investments in sports is the new stadium in Batumi. It is worth noting that the previous Government left this city, with its football traditions, without a stadium at all. They demolished the existing stadium, whereas the GD Government not only built a new, beautiful stadium for Batumi, but also significantly improved the sports infrastructure;
• I would like to remind you that our Government has implemented a Universal Healthcare Programme and other targeted initiatives. The country's social budget and healthcare financing have increased fourfold. As a result, financial access to healthcare has improved significantly, with average life expectancy rising from 72 to 75 years. The number of pensioners has increased by 155,000, and the social protection package for the population has been expanded fivefold. Pensions have been increased threefold. Starting from January 1, the pension for pensioners under the age of 70 will be ₾350 ($128.69), and for pensioners over 70 it will be ₾450 GEL. Additionally, pensions for pensioners living in highland settlements will increase to 420 and 540 ($165.46). In total 35,000 internally displaced families have received decent housing, and after the completion of current projects, an additional 6,000 IDP families will receive housing.

Kobakhidze also highlighted the role of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the GD party in the “democratic transition”of rule  in 2012.