On the 34th anniversary of Georgia’s independence referendum, the ruling party, Georgian Dream, introduced controversial draft legislation to outlaw opposition parties. This move could significantly alter any shreds of the democratic framework still left in Georgia, marking a critical shift.
On 31st of March, 2025 Georgian Dream officially launched draft legislation outlawing basically the entire opposition. The actual wording of the law sounds like a repetition of the constitutional provision protecting the state from forceful overthrow of government or the creation of illegal armed forces. Still, once coupled with the political statements proceeding draft law, it is absolutely clear for all observers of the political developments in Georgia that the government guarantees fulfillment of its electoral promise to abolish the political party – National Movement, and all its “affiliates”.
Overview of Legislation:
The proposed amendments, introduced in two pivotal laws – “On Political Unions of Citizens” and “On the Constitutional Court of Georgia” – equip the Constitutional Court with extensive powers to disband political parties. Notably, parties can now be banned not only for actions threatening the state, such as advocating violence or attempting to overthrow the government, but also for more ambiguous reasons, such as sharing similar policies or membership with previously outlawed groups.
Key Provisions:
- The Constitutional Court may ban any party that engages in activities threatening the constitutional order or integrity of the state.
- Parties with goals or core activities mirroring those of previously banned parties can also be prohibited, essentially preventing the reformation of these groups under new guises.
The true meaning of the initiated changes was conveyed multiple times by the leaders of the Georgian Dream, both from parliament and the executive branch. The best description comes from Mr. Makhashvili, the chair of the European Integration Committee. As Levan Makhashvili mentioned on Georgian Public Broadcaster – Channel One, recognizing the National Movement and its affiliated parties as unconstitutional was also an election promise of the Georgian Dream.
“For the possible decision of the Constitutional Court on the ban to be effective and to produce real results, and to prevent political parties from remaining in the political space with other names, other colors, and other packaging despite the Constitutional Court’s decision, specific decisions are necessary at the operational level. The parliamentary initiative serves this purpose.
Our goal is to improve the political space so that those who want to do good for the country can function in the political space. There is no place for criminals in the Georgian political space. These decisions serve not to persecute anyone but to ensure that criminal forces are not represented in the Georgian political scene,” said Levan Makhashvili.
We shall not be mistaken when reading the text of the proposed amendments, as the real goals have been clearly expressed several times over the past couple of weeks. This is the statement from March 27th by the leader of the parliamentary majority, Mr.Mdinaradze, three days after the draft law was initiated:
“They (opposition parties) will not be able to participate in the self-government elections! This will be ensured by the Georgian state and its constitutional order. Even at this stage, it is clear that the conclusion of the investigative commission will be a solid legal basis for declaring these parties unconstitutional, and the Constitutional Court, we are sure, will also make an objective decision. The collective “National Movement” will no longer be able to participate not only in the self-government elections but also in any elections held in this country. As anti-Georgian, anti-constitutional, anti-national and criminal parties, they will be declared unconstitutional parties and their activities will be prohibited! ” – stated Mamuka Mdinaradze.
