Jump to content

2025 Georgian local elections

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2025 Georgian local elections
← 2021 4 October 2025 2029 →
 
Party Georgian Dream Strong Georgia For Georgia
 
Party Girchi Conservatives for Georgia

The 2025 Georgian local elections (Georgian: საქართველოს ადგილობრივი თვითმმართველობის ორგანოების არჩევნები) will be held on October 4th to elect the bodies of local government of Georgia.[1]

Background

[edit]

Electoral system

[edit]
Main article: Local government in Georgia (country)

Georgian Dream Executive Secretary Mamuka Mdinaradze has announced that the 2025 local elections will be conducted under the same rules as the 2017 elections. According to Mdinaradze, the Georgian Dream-led parliament will adopt the necessary amendments to the Election Code through an accelerated procedure.

The local government elections of 21 October 2017, were held with a 4% threshold. Voters elected officials for a four-year term, including:

  • Mayors of 59 self-governing communities and four self-governing cities, including Tbilisi.
  • 50 members of the Tbilisi City Assembly (Sakrebulo), with 25 elected in single-mandate majoritarian districts and 25 through proportional representation.
  • 2,008 members of 63 assemblies in self-governing cities (excluding Tbilisi) and self-governing communities, with 945 elected proportionally and 1,063 through a majoritarian system.

For the 2021 local elections, the electoral system was revised, altering the proportion of Sakrebulo members elected under proportional and majoritarian rules. Voters elected 2,068 members of 64 assemblies and 64 mayors, including five mayors of self-governing cities. These changes also led to adjustments in district boundaries and administration. A two-round system was introduced for local majoritarian districts, with a 40% threshold. Additionally, the electoral barrier was lowered to 2.5% in Tbilisi and 3% in other districts.[2]

List of parties

[edit]

As of March 2025, all four opposition coalitions that crossed the electoral threshold in the 2024 parliamentary elections did not announce plans to participate in the local elections and stated that they would only consider participation in the elections if the demands of the 2024–2025 Georgian protests were met, including the holding of snap parliamentary elections and the "release of all political prisoners".[3] However, in May and June 2025 Lelo for Georgia urged the other opposition parties to consider "strategic approach to self-government elections", citing the big chance of winning the capital, Tbilisi, amidst the opposition victory in the capital in the 2024 parliamentary elections. The Lelo described it as a major potential blow to Georgian Dream.[4][5] Earlier, the For Georgia party also hinted at potential participation in the elections.[6] However, on 30 June, eight opposition parties, Liberty Square, European Georgia, the United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Ahali, Girchi – More Freedom, Droa and Federalists signed a statement announcing the boycott of the local elections.[7] The Strong Georgia officially announced that it would take part in the election on 5 July,[8] while on 14 July it announced an alliance with For Georgia opposition party for joint candidates.[9]

  • Georgian Dream: "We plan to win both the mayoral and city council elections in all 64 municipalities, and I can say with full confidence and determination that we will win both by a large margin," said Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.[10] Rati Ionatamishvili, the chairman of the Parliament's Human Rights Committee, emphasized that the local elections will be crucial for removing the radical opposition.[11]
  • Coalition for Change: One of the leaders, Nika Gvaramia, stated that entering the electoral race would mean "either disregarding people's will or being Bidzina's agent", therefore, he expressed hope that no opposition party would take part in the election "by any motive".[12]
  • Unity: One of the leaders, Giorgi Vashadze, stated, "Participation in the local elections is excluded for me, for our party, and for the overwhelming majority of those I've spoken to. This year, snap parliamentary elections should be held first, followed by local elections. While we must consider all scenarios, the priority is that parliamentary elections take place first, under new rules and conditions, and then local elections. We are firmly positioned that, given the current situation, participation in the local elections is out of the question."[13]
  • Strong Georgia: On 13 March, Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of Strong Georgia, stated that they would not adhere to Georgian Dream's agenda and that their primary focus remained on holding new parliamentary elections. "Only when a proper system and a fair electoral environment are established will it be possible to hold local elections," Japaridze said.[14] Another member, Salome Samadashvili, emphasized, "The issue is not about who will participate in the elections, but whether elections even exist in the country. The West is telling us that the elections have been canceled."[15] However, later Lelo urged the other opposition parties to consider participating in the elections. Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the party, said that the electoral boycotts are generally unsucessfuly, urging others to verify the information through ChatGPT or any other AI. He stated that refusing to take part in the election meant "capitulation".[16] Irakli Kupradze, Secretary General of Lelo, said that the opposition could win in Tbilisi as it already did in the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election, describing it as a major blow to the Georgian Dream.[4] Grigol Gegelia, a prominent member of the party, urged other opposition parties to consider "strategic approach to self-government elections", including a unified discussion on maximizing the impact.[5] On 5 July 2025, Strong Georgia officially announced that they would take part in the local elections.[8]
  • For Georgia: One of the members, Teona Akubardia, said, "Ivanishvili's regime's focus on local elections serves to push parliamentary elections off the agenda. We are preparing for new parliamentary elections."[17] However, the leader of the party Giorgi Gakharia did not rule out the possible participation of the party in the election, saying that the party has not yet made its decision.[9]
  • Girchi: Girchi has begun preparing for the local elections, as party leaders Aleksandre Rakviashvili and Iago Khvichia announced.[18]
  • Federalists: The Federalists will not participate in the local elections. According to party leader Tamar Chergoleishvili, the public's demand is for snap elections, and no party will dare to participate under these circumstances. "The crisis currently facing the country was not created by political parties, it was created by the Georgian people, by the protest electorate. Their demand is re-elections, and no political party will dare to participate in the local self-government elections while the demand for re-elections persists. So, no, we are not going to," Chergoleishvili stated.[19]
  • On 22 April 2025, the Alt-Info movement has registered a new political party, "Conservatives for Georgia".[20] Konstantine Morgoshia, one of the party leaders, confirmed that Conservatives for Georgia intends to participate in upcoming elections, including potential snap parliamentary elections and local elections.[21]

Campaign

[edit]

Georgian Dream

[edit]

On 5 March 2025, Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and the Georgian Dream Secretary-General, stated that the party had already been preparing for the local elections.[22]

Girchi

[edit]

On 10 March 2025, Alexandre Rakviashvili, one of the leaders of the Girchi party, stated that Girchi had already begun meetings with the electorate since February, with one of such being held in Rustavi. He highlighted the importance of early preparations, underscoring the participation in the local elections as "difficult" and requiring many resources to be able to compete in all 63 municipalities.[23] Rakviashvili emphasized the elections of Tbilisi mayor and suggested that the party might field a joint candidate with the other opposition parties.[24]

2025 Tbilisi mayoral election

[edit]

The 2025 Tbilisi mayoral election (Georgian: თბილისის მერის არჩევნები) will be held on 4 October to elect the Mayor of Tbilisi in parallel to the Tbilisi City Assembly elections.

Candidates

[edit]

Georgian Dream

[edit]

On March 20, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated in an interview that Kakha Kaladze's candidacy for Tbilisi mayor has no alternative, adding, "We'll see what decision the party will make."[25] However, there are speculations that Georgian Dream may nominate Noshrevan Namoradze, a businessman affiliated with the ruling party, as its candidate.[26]

Strong Georgia and For Georgia

[edit]

On 14 July, Strong Georgia and For Georgia announced an alliance for a joint, non-partisan mayoral candidate.[9]

Opinion polls

[edit]
Date Sample
size 		Pollster GD CfC U-NM SG FG Girchi APG CfG GLP Others Lead
17-29 June 2025 2,000 ISSA 35.8 18 16.6 9.5 10 2.3 1.5 1.3 – 5.1 17.8
18-30 January 2025 1,912 ISSA 31.5 18 14.9 11 9.5 4.3 2.9 – 0.8 7.1 13.5

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CEC: The next elections for the municipality's representative body will be held October 4, 2025". Interpressnews. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  2. ^ "მდინარაძე: 2025 წლის თვითმმართველობის არჩევნები ჩატარდება 2017-ის არჩევნების წესებით". პუბლიკა (in Georgian). 9 December 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  3. ^ "თვითმმართველობის არჩევნები - ოპოზიციური პარტიების უმრავლესობა არჩევნებში ჩართვას, ახალი საპარლამენტო არჩევნების და დაკავებულების გათავისუფლების შემდეგ განიხილავს". Rustavi 2 (in Georgian). Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Lelo's Kupradze: We can liberate Tbilisi in local elections". 1TV (in Georgian). 2 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Lelo's Gegelia urges opposition parties to consider to strategic approach to self-government elections". 1TV (in Georgian). 2 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Gakharia doesn't rule out running in upcoming local elections in Georgia". OC Media. 16 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Eight opposition parties boycott local elections, Khoshtaria and Popkhadze end hunger strike". 1tv. 30 June 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Lelo/Strong Georgia to Run in October Local Elections, Three Senior Members Dissent". Civil Georgia. 5 July 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "Gakharia for Georgia and Lelo–Strong Georgia forge cooperation memorandum ahead of October 4 elections". 1tv. 14 July 2025.
  10. ^ "ირაკლი კობახიძე: ჩვენ, 64-ვე მუნიციპალიტეტში მოვიგებთ, როგორც მერის, ასევე საკრებულოს არჩევნებს, დიდი უპირატესობით". Imedi TV. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  11. ^ "რატი იონათამიშვილი - რადიკალური ოპოზიციის გაწმენდისთვის თვითმმართველობის არჩევნები მნიშვნელოვანი იქნება". 1TV (in Georgian). Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Ahali leader views participation in local elections as disregarding people's will". 1tv.ge. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  13. ^ "ვაშაძე: ამ ვითარებაში, ჩვენგან თვითმმართველობის არჩევნებში მონაწილეობა გამორიცხულია". Tabula. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  14. ^ "არ ვაპირებთ "ოცნების" გეგმებით ვიმოქმედოთ და ჩვენი მთავარი ამოცანა ახალი არჩევნების ჩატარებაა - ჯაფარიძე". TV Pirveli (in Georgian). Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  15. ^ "სალომე სამადაშვილი - საკითხი არ არის, ვინ მიიღებს არჩევნებში მონაწილეობას, არამედ ქვეყანაში არსებობს თუ არა საერთოდ არჩევნები, დასავლეთი გვეუბნება, რომ არჩევნები გაუქმებულია". 1TV (in Georgian). Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  16. ^ "მამუკა ხაზარაძე: აიღეთ Chat GPT ან ნებისმიერი ხელოვნური ინტელექტი და ჩაწერეთ, მოგცეთ მაგალითები, საარჩევნო ბოიკოტს რომელ ქვეყანაში მოუტანია შედეგი". Imedi Media Holding (in Georgian). 7 June 2025.
  17. ^ "თეონა აქუბარდია - ივანიშვილის რეჟიმის აქცენტი თვითმმართველობის არჩევნებზე ემსახურება იმას, რომ საპარლამენტო არჩევნები დღის წესრიგიდან მოხსნან - ჩვენ ვემზადებით ახალი საპარლამენტო არჩევნებისთვის". Interpressnews (in Georgian). 9 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  18. ^ ""ვეძებთ წესიერ ხალხს, დავიწყეთ კამპანია" – გირჩი თვითმმართველობის არჩევნებზე". Tabula. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  19. ^ ""ვერცერთი პარტია გაბედავს თვითმმართველობის არჩევნებში მონაწილეობას, სანამ პროტესტის დაკვეთა არის ხელახალი არჩევნები, ასე რომ, არა, არ ვაპირებთ" - თამარ ჩერგოლეიშვილი". Rustavi 2 (in Georgian). Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Alt-Info Resurrected in New "Conservatives for Georgia"". Civil Georgia. 24 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Georgian extremist group Alt Info to register new political party". OC Media. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  22. ^ "კახა კალაძე: ჩვენ დაწყებული გვაქვს თვითმმართველობის არჩევნებისთვის მზადება". On.ge. 5 March 2025.
  23. ^ "დიდი ხნით ადრე დავიწყეთ მომზადება - "გირჩი" თვითმმართველობის არჩევნებზე". Cnews. 10 March 2025.
  24. ^ ""თბილისის მერის არჩევნები ერთ-ერთი ყველაზე მნიშვნელოვანია. არ იქნება ურიგო, რომ რაღაც ტიპის შეთანხმება იყოს ოპოზიციაში" - რაქვიაშვილი". Resonance Daily. 10 March 2025.
  25. ^ ""კახა კალაძის კანდიდატურა უალტერნატივოა" - ირაკლი კობახიძე თბილისის მერის არჩევნებზე". bm.ge (in Georgian). 20 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  26. ^ ""მთავარი არხის" ინფორმაციით, "ოცნება" თავის მოლარე-ბიზნესმენ ნოშრევან ნამორაძეს თბილისის მერობის კანდიდატად განიხილავს". Mtavari Arkhi. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2025_Georgian_local_elections&oldid=1301309093"