Georgian Dream positions itself as a
centre-left party. Georgian Dream was initially considered a '
big tent' party, based on the different political strains that were present within the party, including
social democracy,
market liberalism and
social conservatism. Its origins as an all-encompassing front in opposition to the
United National Movement government contributed to the opaque political ideology. Georgian political scientist Levan Lortkipanidze described Georgian Dream as "a party which is held together through loyalty to its charismatic leader and the opposition to the government of the '
Rose Revolution'" (UNM). Ivanishvili's form of government in the early years was described as "popular
oligarchy". The party was described as adhering to the "ideology-free"
technocratic populism: transcending
right–left ideological landscape. Lately, Georgian Dream has been characterized as being more ideologically consistent. It is commonly labeled as
conservative,
left-conservative,
ultraconservative,
national conservative, or
populist. Moreover, the party officials increasingly self-identified the party as "conservative" or "traditionalist" by 2023. However, the party has also maintained its
centre-left self-identification, condemning the
Party of European Socialists for deviating from "classical social-democratic ideology" to "a pseudo-liberal platform". The condemnation of the "pseudo-liberalism" and "
liberal fascism" has often featured in the Georgian Dream rhetoric, usually concerning the sexual and gender matters. Its style of governance has been generally described as
illiberal,
autocratic, as well as
authoritarian. By 2025, the party has been described as "conservative left", adopting socially conservative and economically left-wing policies, as well as becoming increasingly "autocratic" in rhetoric. The party supported joining the
European Union and
NATO, while also promising balanced and friendly relations with
Russia. However, analysts frequently describe the party's foreign policy as
anti-Western,
Eurosceptic, and
pro-Russian, despite the party itself rejecting such characterizations. Regarding the
European integration, since mid-2019, with the rise of illiberalism within the party, it also became more critical of the European Union and
soft Eurosceptic in its rhetoric, still promising to join the EU but only "whilst playing by Georgian rules". Political analysts describe this ideological shift in Georgian Dream as
sovereigntism, closely associated with
Hungary and particularly
Viktor Orbán, who has become Georgian Dream's key ally and ideological influence, fueling the "Orbanization of Georgia". Georgian Dream leaders have maintained the party's official goal is still the Western integration, stating that Georgia will become "a member of the big family called Europe with our own identity and sovereignty".
Shalva Papuashvili, Georgian Dream's chair of parliament, has positioned the party as the only political force in Georgia "merging Europeanism and patriotism". The analysts described the party's rhetoric on European Union and the European Integration since 2023 as being based on the idea of "two Europes": the "Good Europe" which is illiberal, traditional, moral, independent and just, represented by Orban government in Hungary, and the "Bad Europe", represented by
Brussels, which is immoral, lacking values, undignified, unjust and controlled by
shadowy powers. Political analyst and a former member of
Georgian Dream coalition Paata Zakareishvili, has described the party as "undemocratic but not anti-democratic, not Western but not anti-Western, not Russian but not anti-Russian."
Economic policy Georgian Dream espouses centre-left fiscal and economic views, based on maintaining welfare state, free-of-charge public healthcare and education, regulatory approach to the market, and a number of
environmental protection policies. According to the Georgian Institute of Politics, Georgian Dream's economic policy by 2017 was a combination of the pre-existing
free market model, created by their predecessor United National Movement party, with a comprehensive
social safety net. In 2017, Georgian Dream deputies supported the removal of the constitutional ban on
progressive taxation and the requirement to hold a referendum to raise corporate and income tax rates. These provisions were implemented in 2011 by the former ruling UNM party through its
Economic Liberty Act. The proposal to amend the law was opposed by business groups and the political opposition, after which a compromise was reached that the ban would remain in place until 2029. The party also professed a commitment to "economic openness" and "market-driven growth". The main message of the 2020 election manifesto was 'effective' government and 'social prosperity'. The economic section of the 2020 election manifesto advocated the continuation of low taxes, free market, small government, and less regulation, effectively containing some centre-right proposals. During his address to the Georgian Parliament in February 2021, Prime Minister-designate Irakli Garibashvili criticized the idea of a
minimal state and the "
invisible hand of the market". He said the "small state idea is a myth impeding the country's development" and called on the government to play an
active role in the economy, emphasizing that Georgia should become economically more self-sufficient. He criticized the previous government for its free-market approach to economics. The speech was described as "a remarkable rhetorical break from Georgian political orthodoxy", which was more or less always supportive of the
free market economics and economic non-interventionism since its introduction by UNM and continuation by Georgian Dream.
Social policy Despite the fact that Georgian Dream has always espoused rather conservative social views, the party has experienced a notable right-wing shift, with the party being accused of adopting
far-right ideas on
LGBT rights and other social and cultural issues.
LGBT rights Even though Georgian Dream had a largely
socially conservative and religious base, as many priests of the
Georgian Orthodox Church supported the party coming to power in 2012, Georgian Dream initially had a relatively liberal approach to LGBT rights. Prior to a rally to mark the
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in May 2013, Prime Minister Ivanishvili openly defended LGBT rights by saying they "have the same rights as any other social groups" in Georgia and that "society will gradually get used to it". In a highly conservative and religious society, Ivanishvili became the first Georgian politician to openly make such statement. As precondition for Georgia to obtain relaxed visa procedures with the
European Union, the Georgian Dream government passed an
anti-discrimination law in 2014, which also provided
protection against discrimination of sexual minorities, making Georgia the most
LGBT-friendly country in the
South Caucasus. The law was highly criticized by the
Georgian Orthodox Church. However, Georgian Dream opposes
same-sex marriage in Georgia. In response to conservative criticism of the anti-discrimination law, Georgian Dream proposed to put a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, despite an existing implicit ban in the Civil Code. Prime Minister Garibashvili said this step was necessary to avoid confusion in society that the anti-discrimination law granted any new rights or privileges to any group and that it would lead to same-sex marriages in the future. The constitution was eventually amended in 2018, defining marriage as "a union between a woman and a man for the purpose of creating a family". Over time, the party has grown more conservative and outspoken against what they perceive as "
LGBT-propaganda" and has been accused of using
homophobia as a political tool. In July 2021, Prime Minister
Irakli Garibashvili argued against holding the
gay parade on
Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi as "unreasonable", offering alternative locations, saying it contains the risk of "civil confrontation" as the majority of the populace finds such a parade "unacceptable". The parade was cancelled when the authorities did not provide safety guarantees. Garibashivili's remarks prompted thousands of far-right radicals to
attack the Tbilisi Pride office, activists and journalists, which led to dozens being injured. Garibashvili dismissed the attack as "very unfortunate", but said that "violence happens everywhere", for which
Tbilisi Pride criticized him as "homophobic" and "anti-state". Two years later, the party denounced "LGBT propaganda among children" and
blamed it for increasing numbers of people who identify as LGBT in Western countries. In a speech at the ultra-conservative
CPAC-conference, Garibashvili spoke of the importance of preserving "traditional values" and the inadmissibility of "violence by the minority against the majority" in a denunciation of "aggressive propaganda" as a tool to forcefully change the traditional values of the majority. Georgian Dream introduced
constitutional amendments in 2024 to "protect family values and minors" and to allow marriage only of "a union of a single genetic male and a single genetic female", narrowing the marriage rights on top of the already existing ban on
same-sex marriage. The amendments would further prohibit what the party calls "LGBT propaganda",
gender transition and
adoption of children by same-sex couples.
Drug policy Georgian Dream has a liberal policy regarding
marijuana. In June 2017, the Prime Minister
Giorgi Kvirikashvili scrupulously expressed his support for
drug liberalization, saying that harsh drug policy goes against human rights. However, the government made little progress on the reform, arguably because of its largely
socially conservative base and influence of
Georgian Orthodox Church in the country, which spurred the
2018 Georgian protests following a
nightclub raid over illegal drug trade. As a result of a lawsuit by the members of
Girchi party, the
Constitutional Court of Georgia legalized the personal use of marijuana. Thus, the constitutional court spearheaded the reform promised by the prime minister. On 11 September 2018, it became known that Georgian Dream was considering a draft law to legalize medical marijuana cultivation and production. However, the idea was abandoned following strong protests from the
Georgian Orthodox Church. Therefore, while personal use of cannabis is legal in Georgia, large-scale cultivation and sale of cannabis is illegal. During the 2024
Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze denounced the
drug liberalization campaigns, describing the drugs as "transforming a person from an intelligent individual into a subject devoid of values". In February 2025, the Georgian Dream announced the legislative amendments to toughen drug policies. Ahead of the
2020 Georgian parliamentary election, the gender quota for political parties was adopted, albeit under pressure of the European Union and the
OSCE. Further amendments to extend and expand the quota were adopted in February 2023. However, in 2024 Georgian Dream backtracked on its earlier position and supported the initiative of the
right-libertarian Girchi party to repeal the gender quota legislation.
Abortion In 2013, the
Georgian Orthodox Church called the Georgian government to ban abortions, which it described as a "terrible sin" and "heinous murder", while blaming it for the "grave demographic situation" in the country. Georgia's then Prime Minister
Bidzina Ivanishvili brushed off the proposal, stating that solving demographic problems "first and foremost needs economic development".
Migration After the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgia emerged as one of the most popular destinations for
Russians who have left their country following the start of the war as Georgia has visa free regime towards Russian citizens since 2015. Georgian Dream described their arrival as "a new economic opportunity" and downplayed criticism as "hysterical". However, in February 2025, the party announced its intention to tighten migration laws. During the 2024
Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticized the "
uncontrolled migration" in the European countries. He warned that that if the mass migration continued in the European countries, the local population would soon become a minority. In 2026, Prime Minister
Irakli Kobakhidze promised to "free the country from illegal migrants". He said that "it "is natural that every patriotic Georgian wants Georgia to firmly defend and preserve its national and religious identity against the background of the ongoing processes in Europe". The Prime Minisiter criticzed the immigration policies of European countries, saying: "You see what migration has done to Europe — in Berlin, the most common baby name last year was Muhammad. Across England, the most common name is also Muhammad". The similar statement was made by the MP
Levan Machavariani. However, the Prime Minisiter also said that the programmes for foreign students would not be cancelled, claiming that they posed no demographic risk and that it would harm the economy, and the Georgian Dream officials also denounced those who criticized the investment deal with the
UAE-based real estate company Eagle Hills for "xenophobia". In February 2026, the Georgian Dream proposed and passed the legislation which sharply restricted the employment of the
foreign workers in the delivery and taxi sectors.
Religion During the
2024 Georgian parliamentary election campaign,
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream, unveiled the party's proposal to make the
Orthodox Christianity a
state religion in Georgia. The ruling party presented this initiative as part of their commitment to uphold "national values and traditions," in line with their campaign promises to ban "
LGBT propaganda" and reinforce the role of the Church. Ivanishvili said that Christianity, along with the homeland and language, was "one of the key foundations of our [Georgian] identity". During the
Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze noted that Georgia adopted the
Christianity as its state religion back in the 4th century, and emphasized that the Christianity has importantly shaped the Georgian national identity, using the slogan of the 19th century
Georgian nationalist writer,
Ilia Chavchavadze — "Language, Homeland, Faith". The Georgian Orthodox Church spokesman Andria Jaghmaidze praised the proposal for "upholding the national values and traditions" and reflecting the government's desire to "strengthen the Church's role and status further", but also described it as "spontaneous" and suggested that the idea required the further deliberation.
Green policy The party has consistently projected a progressive image on
environmental issues. The party advocates for banning old cars for their high carbon emissions and introducing a corporate
green tax for businesses that cause environmental pollution. Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi, has highlighted the importance of taking some "unpopular steps" in order to improve the existing ecological situation and create
green spaces. Nevertheless, some
green activists have questioned the party's environmentalist credentials.
Foreign policy On foreign policy, Georgian Dream positions itself in favor of joining
NATO and the
European Union, which the far majority of Georgians support, while at the same time "restoring friendly relations with Russia", as outlined by Ivanishvili in January 2013.
European Union and NATO Although proclaiming a
pro-European agenda, since the 2020s Georgian Dream's actual policy on the European Union has been described as
Eurosceptic. The party has positioned itself as combining Western values and Georgian traditional values, as well as being in favor of the European integration while safeguarding Georgia from what it considers as unnecessary and excessive encroachment on its sovereignty from the European institutions. Critics have denounced this as "
doublethink", stating the party says "they favor accession to the European Union, but their actions aim to purge EU values from the country". In its first ruling term, Georgian Dream achieved significant steps towards
European integration, such as an
Association Agreement and visa-free travel to the
Schengen Area. In its second ruling term, Georgian Dream focused on integration rather than accession of Euro-Atlantic structures as end-goal, in a "realistic" adjustment of its foreign policy. This converged with increasing
anti-western propaganda by Georgian Dream leaders, piloting what some consider pro-Russian narratives, "seemingly designed to offend" its Western partners. The adoption of legislation which has been declared incompatible with EU membership on multiple occasions by the EU, such as the "
foreign agents" bill, is considered deliberate sabotage of the accession process by Georgian Dream. The party's official position regarding the European Union and its accession process is that it plans to make Georgia part of the European Union with the Georgian government "playing by Georgian rules" and maintaining its dignity.
Irakli Kobakhidze maintained that Georgia "will become a member of the European Union with dignity, independence, freedom and sovereignty". Amid discussion of the foreign agent law in 2023, Prime Minister
Irakli Garibashvili said that "time of Georgian authorities serving foreign interests is over", in particular, he denounced "
MEPs and some corrupt bureaucrats" for their efforts to "dictate their rules to the Georgian people". Georgian Dream members often criticize what they consider as unfair treatment from the European Union, such as the EU's rejection of Georgia's membership application in June 2022, which the PM Garibashvili called an "unfair decision". Garibashvili said that Georgia is ahead of both Moldova and Ukraine, which were granted the EU candidacy, in terms of reforms and performance, and that while Georgia was required the judicial, rule of law, and anti-corruption reforms before receiving the EU candidacy, Moldova and Ukraine were also given these priorities but they received the EU candidacy in advance. Georgian Dream has often criticized the EU and US for conducting foreign interference in Georgian domestic politics. As such, Garibashvili referred to Mikheil Saakashvili as "European Parliament's agent" who they wanted to see return to power and passed "shameful" resolutions to support Saakashvili, while "disregarding the opinion of the Georgian people" about Saakashvili who "tortured [and] killed people, terrorised the business and completely suppressed the media freedom". PM Kobakhidze slammed the "foreign diktat" and challenged foreign ambassadors to a TV debate. He stated that the ambassadors "are trying to assume the functions of the legislator, participate in the legislative process and dictate to the supreme body of the representative democracy which laws it should pass or not". Kobakhidze further opined that Georgia will become a member of the European Union only as a part of a "unity of sovereign states". At first, Georgian Dream pursued NATO membership for Georgia, but in line with its political development, the party effectively abandoned this policy by 2019, In 2023 at the Global Security Forum, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili blamed NATO enlargement as "one of the main reasons for Ukraine war". In July 2025, EU foreign policy chief
Kaja Kallas threatened Georgia with suspension of visa liberalisation, the suspension of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, and sanctions.
Russia Georgian Dream's policy towards
Russia is subject to debate among political analysts with some describing their approach as cautious, while a number of analysts see the party moving Georgia into the "
Russian orbit". In recent years, Georgian Dream has been widely described as pro-Russian. However, the party rebukes this characterization and outlines their policy as "pragmatic and principled" describing their doctrine as "strategic patience". Georgian Dream supports the normalization of relations with the Russian Federation, strained after the 2008
Russo-Georgian War. The party has stressed the importance of Georgia having "normal, peaceful relations" with its "largest neighbor" aimed at "avoiding harm to Georgia [and] its citizens". In terms of normalization, the party has highlighted an economic and trade dimension rather than a political one. During the 2012 election campaign the party vowed to restore economic relations with Russia hampered by the
2006 Russian ban of Moldovan and Georgian wines, citing the importance of the Russian market for Georgian citizens working in the wine industry as Russia was responsible for 80–90% of the total wine exports from Georgia before the ban. Nevertheless, Ivanishvili has ruled out Georgia joining the Russian-led
Eurasian Economic Union. In the political dimension, Georgia under the Georgian Dream party continued to have no diplomatic relations with Russia (with diplomatic relations being broken after the 2008 war and Georgia being the one among only five UN members to have no diplomatic relations with Russia along with
Ukraine,
Bhutan, the
Solomon Islands, and
Micronesia). The party has also condemned the 2014
Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and
Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to some political commentators, the party supports "civilizational" and military alignment with the West rather than with Russia, however, its approach is not based on harsh anti-Russian rhetoric and uncompromising pro-Western policy, promising to combine pro-Western orientation with "normalization of relations" with Russia. In return Georgian Dream has been described by all major pro-Western opposition parties as pro-Russian. In the
2012 parliamentary election Ivanishvili was painted by the government as a "Russian stooge" and some analysts described the party as a "
Russian project". The critics claimed that the party's lax stance on Russia was proof of the government's pro-Russian politics. The government's political and economic rapprochement with Russia, its increasing anti-western rhetoric, and the passing of the "foreign agents" bill, are viewed by a number of analysts and the opposition, including the President
Salome Zourabichvili, as further proof of the party being pro-Russian and under the influence of Russia. Georgian Dream however dismisses the "pro-Russian" labeling, claiming that their approach is focused on a balancing act between Russia and other regional powers intended to maintain peace and stability in Georgia. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili described this in 2023 as "navigating through the turbulent situation to survive". Critics of this position have called the approach "attractive and tempting in theory", but "unrealistic and superfluous" in reality. According to some analysts, the Georgian Dream government has chosen
bandwagoning as its strategy of dealing with Russia, although to a limited extent, and has shifted the Georgian foreign policy away from
balancing of Russia pursued by the previous governments of the
United National Movement and late
Shevardnadze era. However, the societal and public opposition to a Russia-accommodating policy resulted in a "bandwagoning by stealth" or "low-profile bandwagoning" by the government, trying to balance a belief of the GD leadership in the need to accommodate Russia with the public attitudes generating strong resonance against any rapproachment. This however has still resulted in at least two major political crises: one
after the visit of the Russian MP in 2019, and another one in 2022 against what was perceived as the "inadequate" government reaction to the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the GD retained the formal goal of the
Euro-Atlantic integration, Russia in general avoided criticizing the GD foreign policy, possibly seeing no better alternative for itself in Georgia, despite opposing some approximation between Georgia and the EU under the GD-led government since 2012. The launching of the normalization of relations between Russia and Georgia was signified by the first two-way meeting of Russian and Georgian officials after the
2008 war held in
Prague in December 2012. GD's "pragmatic" policy towards Russia has been welcomed by
Moscow. However, since the Georgian Dream party opposed the restoration of formal diplomatic and political ties with Russia until the
disputes with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia were resolved, a Georgian diplomat Zurab Abashidze was appointed as a Special Representative of the Georgian government to mend ties outside formal diplomatic relations by meeting periodically with his Russian counterpart
Grigory Karasin on neutral ground in Prague. The "Prague Format" of Russia-Georgia relations was not meant to facilitate the resolution of disputes regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as both sides remained at odds over these issues. The Prague Format was rather focused on a pragmatic process on matters of mutual interest that are unrelated to the breakaways. In particular, the Georgian government asked Russia to include the issue of breakaway regions during the bilateral talks in 2014 and 2015, Georgian Dream officials have been particularly critical of what they consider as Saakashvili's confrontational approach to Russia, which Ivanishvili denounced for bringing only "negative results". The party's official stance regarding the 2008
Russo-Georgian war is that it was provoked by the Saakashvili government. The party officials have accused UNM of committing treason against the Georgian people by provoking the
2008 war with Russia. Moreover, Ivanishvili elaborated that the war was "ordered from outside" by the
Global War Party with UNM being its agents. Ivanishvili has accused the previous government of "engulfing
Ossetian people in the flames of fire" calling on Georgia to apologize for the war. The party has additionally promised to hold the "
Nuremberg trials" against UNM for "starting the war". Some analysts consider this as Georgian Dream shifting the blame for the war to its opponent Saakashvili for the purpose of normalizing relations with Russia. Some lobby groups and individuals allegedly aligned with Georgian Dream have attempted to promote restoring diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia, though the Georgian Dream government has declared the ongoing nature of the
Russian occupation of territory in Georgia a "red line" preventing official relations.
Ukraine Georgia–Ukraine relations became strained soon after Georgian Dream came to power. The primary conflict had to do with ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili being granted Ukrainian citizenship and being placed in various governmental positions, while the Georgian government sought his extradition and prosecution for abuse of power, embezzlement, and his implication in the attempted murder of an opposition MP. The dysfunctional relationship continued after the start of the 2022
Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the
Ukrainian government calling on sanctions against Ivanishvili. Georgian Dream ruled out imposing economic sanctions on Russia and providing
military aid to Ukraine but vowed to support Ukraine in the diplomatic arena. Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of Georgian Parliament argued Georgia is restricted to do more by the presence of Russian troops on its territory, not far from the capital. Prime Minister Garibashvili allured to western hypocrisy by recalling that in the aftermath of the 2008
Russo-Georgian War no sanctions were imposed by the Western countries on Russia. == International affiliation ==