Georgia: ‘shadow leader’ tops dislike rating. Health minister, Tbilisi mayor most popular

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) recently published the results of its regular study conducted in Georgia – questions to respondents touched on their attitude to the Georgian authorities, politicians and political parties.

Most respondents negatively assess the work of the government.

According to the results of the NDI survey, 46% of respondents believe that the country is developing in the wrong direction. 26% of those surveyed said that the country is in a period of stagnation, while 25% said Georgia is moving in the right direction.

56% of respondents rated the work of the government negatively, 36% responded positively.

Political parties

According to the survey, 37% of respondents could not name a party whose platform they identify as being closer to their own. 21% think that the ruling Georgian Dream reflects their views the closest, while 15% said they identified more with the United National Movement.

European Georgia and the Alliance of Patriots were chosen by four and three per cent respectively of those interviewed.

60% of respondents said they did not know who they would vote for if parliamentary elections were to be held tomorrow. 17% said they would vote for the Georgian Dream, 14% said they’d vote for the United National Movement, while both European Georgia and the Alliance of Patriots received three per cent of the vote each.

Popularity of political parties and politicians

According to the results of the poll, Minister of Health David Sergeenko and Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze enjoy the greatest popularity amongst the population. 40% of respondents responded positively about them.

31% of respondents said they found ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili to be a likable politician.

28 per cent said Labor leader Shalva Natelashvili, President Salome Zurabivili, United Opposition Leader Grigol Vashadze.

27% of respondents said they liked the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia, 26% said the same of Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, while the leader of the Georgian Dream, party chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili was approved of by only 21% of those surveyed.

Bidzina Ivanishvili led the so-called anti-rating, in which 39% of respondents said they have a negative attitude towards Ivanishvili. In second place was the leader of the party Girchi [Geo. pinecone] Zurab Japaridze with 35%.

This was followed by one of the leaders of the United National Movement Nika Melia – 33% and the ex-president of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili – 32%.

∗ The NDI and Open Society Georgia Studies were conducted from March 28 to April 15, 2019. A total of 2,927 respondents were interviewed.