Georgian PM says “healthy political spectrum” should contest 2028 elections, labels opposition “Bolshevik-style”

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said that banning what he described as “radical political parties” would create space for a “healthy political spectrum” in the country, adding that his goal is to ensure such a political environment is in place ahead of the 2028 elections.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze confirmed that the government has already submitted a constitutional complaint to the Constitutional Court of Georgia, seeking a ruling on the legality of several opposition parties.

According to the prime minister, Georgian politics has become stuck in what he described as a “closed loop” between the ruling party and an opposition he characterized as radical, anti-state, and anti-church. He argued that this cycle “must be broken” to ensure democratic balance and stability.

“In reality, if radical political parties are banned, there will be a space for healthy political parties, therefore, a healthy political spectrum should participate in the 2028 elections, this is our task, for this we have filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court of Georgia”, the PM said.

He further cited historical examples, including Germany’s National Socialist Party, claiming that parties with significant voter support can still be incompatible with constitutional democratic systems.

Kobakhidze claimed that the opposition United National Movement was an ordinary Bolshevik political union, therefore there was no place for a Bolshevik political union in a healthy democratic system.

He also stated that the case concerns four political parties that together received around 30% of the vote in the 2024 elections, arguing that electoral support does not exempt parties from constitutional review if their ideology is deemed incompatible with democratic principles.
Kobakhidze claimed that during its nine years in government, the opposition group was responsible for serious abuses, including violations of human rights, pressure on businesses, and territorial losses, allegations that remain politically contested in Georgia.