Georgian Dream and opposition UNM top IRI opinion polls in Georgia

Who would you vote for in the self-government elections if they were tomorrow? This question was asked by sociologists in Georgia and received answers that clearly illustrate the level of polarization in the country.

The ruling Georgian Dream party and the leading opposition United National Movement party are at the top of the list of those who will certainly be voted for. But these same parties are in the first places and in the list of those for whom they will definitely not vote.

Below we summarize the key figures and conclusions on political preferences in Georgia based on a study conducted by the International Republican Institute – Georgia (IRI Georgia).

The survey was conducted from June 15 to June 30, 2021 (that is, two months before the elections) in the form of personal interviews with a total of 1,500 adult respondents. According to IRI, the margin of error is +/- 2.5%.

●The rating of the parties that the respondents would support if the elections were tomorrow: the ruling Georgian Dream party – 28%, the United National Movement – 15%, and the party of the former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia For Georgia – 9%.

• "Who would you vote for" – rating of political parties, full list

  

  Georgian Dream – 28%

  United National Movement – 15%

  For Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia – 9%

  Labor Party – 3%

  Girchi- more freedom, Zura Dzhaparidze – 3%

  Strategy Agmashenebeli, Giorgi Vashadze – 2%

  Lelo – 2%

  Alliance of Patriots – 2%

  “Citizens”, Aleko Elisashvili – 2%

  “Nation”, Levan Vasadze – 2%

  “European Georgia” – 1%

  “For the people”, Anna Dolidze – 1%

  “Time”, Elene Khoshtaria – 1%

  “Girchi” (“Bump”) – 1%

  Other – 1%

● “Which party would you under no circumstances support?” Here one can find the same leaders as in the previous list – the opposition National Movement and the ruling Georgian Dream.

• "Whom you would not vote for" – rating of political parties, full list

  

  30% – “United National Movement”;

  24% – “Georgian Dream”;

  10% – “Bump”;

  10% – “Alliance of Patriots” – David Tarkhan Mouravi, Irma Inashvili “;

  8% – “Bump – more freedom”

  7% – “Labor Party of Georgia”

  5% – “Democratic Movement of Nino Burjanadze”

  4% – “Citizens” – Aleko Elisashvili

  4% – “Strategy of Agmashenebeli – Giorgi Vashadze

  3% – “For Georgia” – Giorgi Gakharia

  3% – “European Georgia” – Giga Bokeria

  3% – “Lelo” – Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze

  3% – “The Nation” – Levan Vasadze

  2% – “For the people” – Anna Dolidze

  2% – “Time” – Elene Khoshtaria

  2% – “Free Democrats – Tamar Kekenadze

  1% – “Republican Party” – Khatuna Samnidze

  1% – “European Socialists

  1% – Other

  3% – Nobody

  20% – Don’t know

  8% – Refused to answer

But if the elections were scheduled for this Sunday, 20% would not know who to vote for.

Personalities who enjoy the greatest trust among the population of Georgia

● Traditionally, the most popular and trusted person in Georgia is the Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, as he enjoys the trust of 88% of the population.

Among the most influential politicians, respondents named three current and former high-ranking officials of the ruling team. This is the mayor of Tbilisi and the candidate for this position in the October elections, Kakha Kaladze (58%), followed by the former prime minister who recently founded his own opposition party Giorgi Gakharia (56%), and the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili (40%).

Nika Melia, leader of the opposition United National Movement party and the main opposition candidate for mayor of Tbilisi in the October local elections, has a 39% rating according to IRI and is ranked fifth in the trust rating. This is almost 20% lower than the rating of his rival in power, Kakha Kaladze.

*** At the time of the IRI poll, the list of public figures did not include the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is considered the shadow ruler of Georgia, and the ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili.

• The politicians that respondents in the IRI survey would vote for. Full list

  

  Kakha Kaladze 58%

  Georgy Gakharia 56%

  Irakli Garibashvili 40%

  Nika Melia 39%

  David Usupashvili 36%

  Ana Dolidze 34%

  Salome Zurabishvili 31%

  Elena Khoshtaria – 30%

  Georgy Vashadze (Strategy Builder) – 30%

  Irakli Kobakhidze – 30%

  Shalva Natelashvili – 29%

  Aleko Elisashvili – 27%

  Kakha Kuchava – 25%

  Mamuka Khazaradze – 24%

  Zurab Girchi Japaridze – 20%

  Irma Inashvili – 20%

  Badri Japaridze – 19%

  Giga Bokeria – 18%

  Nino Burjanadze – 17%

  Levan Vasadze – 16%

  Yago Hvicia – 7%

  Paata Davitaia – 6%

The organizations and structures that are most trusted in the society in Georgia

● In the ranking of public institutions, the Georgian army is in the lead (85%). In second place is the patriarchy (80%), in third place in the House of Justice (an institution that provides a wide range of public services) (76%), followed by the police (65%).

Georgian media are in fifth place in the list of trust (55%), and they are ahead of the government and the prime minister in this rating.

Who is Georgia’s main enemy and what’s the state of democracy in the country?

● Most respondents named Russia as the main threat to the country’s security and the United States as a good ally.

● 60% of citizens are satisfied with the government’s response to Covid-19.

● 75% of respondents are more likely to go to the polls on election day.

● 64% of the population call the economic situation and unemployment the main problems in the country. On the same issue, economic problems, cost of living, and high prices remain the main concern for 45% of the population. For 22% percent, the country’s main problem is poverty.

● 77% believe that a coalition government will be beneficial for democracy in Georgia.

● 53% of the population do not consider the elections held by the CEC to be credible.