Unity – National Movement (Georgian: ერთიანობა – ნაციონალური მოძრაობა, romanized: ertianoba – natsionaluri modzraoba) is an informal politician coalition of pro-Western political parties in Georgia. The coalition includes United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, and European Georgia. It was created prior to the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election, in which it received 10.2% and finished on 3rd place.[7]
Unity – National Movement ერთიანობა – ნაციონალური მოძრაობა | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | U–NM |
| Spokesperson | Levan Sanikidze[1] |
| Leaders | Tinatin Bokuchava |
| Founded | 20 July 2023[a] 8 July 2024 |
| Preceded by | Strength is in Unity |
| Headquarters | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| Ideology | Liberal conservatism[2] Pro-Europeanism[3] |
| Political position | Centre-right[6] |
| Constituent parties | United National Movement Strategy Aghmashenebeli European Georgia Supported by: Progress and Freedom Victorious Georgia Law and Justice |
| Colors | Red White |
| Seats in Parliament | 16 / 150
|
| Municipal Councilors | 467 / 2,068
|
History
edit
On 20 July 2023, United National Movement (UNM) and Strategy Aghmashenebeli (SA) announced the formation of a political coalition titled Victory Platform with the aim of unifying pro-Western opposition in Georgia and defeating Bidzina Ivanishvili and his ruling Georgian Dream party in the upcoming 2024 parliamentary election.[8] The alliance was later renamed to Unity - To Save Georgia (which was itself altered to Unity – National Movement) on 8 July 2024.[9] The parties in the coalition are signatories to the Georgian Charter initiated by the president Salome Zourabichvili that sets out goals for a possible future government.[10]
The leadership of the platform includes Tina Bokuchava, chairperson of UNM, and Giorgi Vashadze, chair of Strategy Agmashenebeli, as well as independent MPs Tamar Kordzaia and Armaz Akhvlediani. Sopo Japaridze, a representative of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, also plays a role, alongside political scientist and professor Gia Japaridze and historian and writer Lasha Bakradze. Civic activists Ana Mosadze and Irakli Pavlenishvili, a member of UNM, are involved, along with Lasha Diarovi, leader of the youth wing of Strategy Agmashenebeli.[9]
Following an internal dispute and split within European Georgia (with departing members forming a new party called the Federalists), the remaining members of European Georgia joined Unity - National Movement.[11][12]
In the parliamentary election, the coalition received 10.2% and finished on 3rd place, being granted 16 seats in the Georgian parliament. It also became a second largest opposition faction in the parliament.[13]
Electoral performance
editParliamentary election
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tina Bokuchava | 211,216 | 10.17 | 16 / 150
|
New | 3rd | Opposition |
Notes
edit- ^ As Victory Platform
References
edit- ^ "თინა ბოკუჩავამ „ერთიანობა - ნაციონალური მოძრაობის" საარჩევნო კამპანიის პრესსპიკერად ლევან სანიკიძე წარადგინა". Interpressnews (in Georgian). 2024-09-29. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Wojciech Wojtasiewicz (9 October 2024). "Georgia Facing Key Parliamentary Elections". The Polish Institute Of International Affairs.
- ^ "Major Georgian Parties Unite for Pro-European 'Platform for Victory': A Pre-Election Twist". Caucasus Watch. 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Is Unity left-wing or right-wing?". PolitPro.
- ^ Olga Dmitrieva (4 October 2024). "The hijacking of Europa. Cutting ties with EU, Georgia's ruling party sees its ratings plummet but remains ahead of opposition". The Insider.
- ^ [4][5]
- ^ "Among the 5 parties that passed the threshold, 148 mandates were distributed with the so-called real votes, and 2 undistributed mandates were shared by "Georgian Dream" with the best result and Gvaramia-Melia coalition". Interpressnews. 29 October 2024.
- ^ ""Platform of Victory" - Two opposition parties in Georgia present a new political platform". JAM News. 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b "UNM, Strategy Aghmashenebeli Announce Political Platform: 'Unity – to Save Georgia'". Civil Georgia. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Opposition Parties Sign Georgian Charter". Civil Georgia. 3 June 2024.
- ^ "European Georgia Joins Unity-National Movement". 1TV. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Politicians who left "European Georgia" founded a new party – "Federalists" | Rustavi2". Rustavi 2. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Among the 5 parties that passed the threshold, 148 mandates were distributed with the so-called real votes, and 2 undistributed mandates were shared by "Georgian Dream" with the best result and Gvaramia-Melia coalition". Interpressnews. 29 October 2024.