Progress and Freedom
Progress and Freedom პროგრესი და თავისუფლება | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Kakha Okriashvili Tsezar Chocheli |
| Founded | 10 August 2020 |
| Headquarters | Tbilisi |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right[1][2] |
| National affiliation | Strength is in Unity (2020-2024) Unity – National Movement (since 2024) |
| Colors | Orange |
| Parliament | 1 / 150 |
| Seats in Dmanisi Municipal Assembly | 1 / 30 |
| Website | |
| Facebook page | |
Progress and Freedom (Georgian: პროგრესი და თავისუფლება, romanized: p'rogresi da tavisupleba) is a pro-European political party in Georgia founded by Kakha Okriashvili and brothers Tsezar and Lasha Chocheli In 2020.[4] In the 2020 parliamentary election it was a part of Strength is in Unity coalition, electing 3 MPs to the Georgian parliament through the coalition's electoral list. For the 2024 parliamentary election, Progress and Freedom fielded its candidates on Unity – National Movement's list.
History
[edit]
Progress and Freedom was founded in August 2020 by Kakha Okriashvili, a founder of PSP pharmacy and an MP elected under United National Movement's party affiliation in 2012 who then switched to Georgian Dream, and brothers Tsezar and Lasha Chocheli, with Tsezar previously serving as an MP from the now Russian-occupied Akhalgori single-mandate constituency and subsequently as governor Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region.[5] In September 2020, the party joined the UNM-led Strength is in Unity coalition.[6]
The coalition nominated Kakha Okriashvili and Tsezar Chokcheli as majoritarian candidates during the 2020 parliamentary election. Kakha Okriashvili received 23,666 votes (39.55%) in the #14 majoritarian constituency and took second place. Tsezar Chocheli was nominated in the #11 majoritarian constituency, where he received 17,134 votes (33.78%) and passed to the second round. He along with the rest of the opposition refused to participate in the second round, nevertheless, his name was included on the ballot paper and received 2,076 (7.47%) votes in the second round.[7]
Progress and Freedom managed to elect 3 MPs from Strength is in Unity's electoral list, however, the party joined the boycott of the Parliament over alleged election irregularities, which lasted for almost 5 months.[8][9] On 19 April 2021, through the mediation of the president of the European Council Charles Michel, an agreement was reached between the opposition and Georgian Dream, however, Strength is in Unity decided against signing the agreement.[10] The coalition finally entered the parliament on 30 May.[11]
In the 2024 parliamentary election, Progress and Freedom is running its candidates on the UNM-led Unity – National Movement political coalition's list. The party is a signatory to the Georgian Charter initiated by the president Salome Zourabichvili that sets out goals for a possible future government.[12]
Electoral performance
[edit]Parliamentary election
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government | Coalition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kakha Okriashvili | 523,127 | 27.18 | 3 / 150 | New | 2nd | Opposition | Strength Is in Unity |
| 2024 | Kakha Okriashvili | 211,130 | 10.17 | 1 / 150 |  2 | 3rd | Opposition | Unity – National Movement |
Local elections
[edit]| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,033 | 0.06 | 2 / 2,068 | New |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Dr. Maia Urushadze; Dr. Tamar Kiknadze (2–4 July 2021). "The Relevance of the Actual Values of the Political Actors of Georgia with the Ideologies Declared by Them". Diamond Scientific Publishing.
- ^ a b "Parties, Parliaments and Polling Averages: Georgia". Europe Elects.
- ^ [1][2]
- ^ "კახა ოქრიაშვილმა და ცეზარ ჩოჩელმა პარტია შექმნეს". formulanews.ge.
- ^ "Georgian Dream Majoritarian MP, Businessmen Brothers Set up New Party". Civil Georgia. 10 August 2020.
- ^ ""ძალა ერთობაშიას" პარტია "პროგრესი და თავისუფლება" შეუერთდა". Ajara TV. 4 September 2020.
- ^ "არჩევნების შედეგები". Jan 4, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-04.
- ^ "Georgian opposition decides to boycott parliament after declaring elections "illegitimate"". commonspace.eu. 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Opposition parties in Georgia sign joint statement renouncing their seats in parliament". JAM News. 3 November 2020.
- ^ "ოპოზიციის დეპუტატების ნაწილი პარლამენტში შევიდა". Civil Georgia (in Georgian). 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "UNM to enter Parliament". 1 TV. 30 May 2021.
- ^ "Opposition Parties Sign President's Georgian Charter". Georgian News. 3 June 2024.
