Tbilisi | August 2, 2025
As Georgia gears up for nationwide local elections, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused foreign-backed forces of driving the radical opposition into a political dead end. According to the PM, these elections are meant to focus on municipal development, not broader political battles.
Speaking to reporters, Kobakhidze said the radical opposition is trying to politicize what are, in essence, local governance elections—an effort he claimed has backfired under pressure from the so-called “deep state.”
“The deep state has pushed the radical opposition into a corner. It’s not unfortunate—it’s fortunate,” he stated.
The term “deep state,” as used by Georgian officials, refers to perceived foreign actors—especially in the U.S. and EU—that allegedly influence Western bureaucracies and politicians. In the West, such rhetoric is widely viewed as conspiracy theory.
Kobakhidze emphasized that the upcoming vote is about choosing mayors and local councils, and should not be treated as a referendum on national politics.
“There are no thresholds like 43%, 50%, or 90%. If the opposition doesn’t understand that, it’s their problem,” he added.
Georgia’s Largest Electoral Process
The local elections are the largest in the country, allowing citizens in every district and city to elect their local leadership. The electoral threshold for proportional council seats (sakrebulo) is 4%. Mayoral candidates must win a majority of votes.
Unlike parliamentary elections, results in local races are tallied individually by district—making it hard for smaller parties to mount effective campaigns across multiple regions.
As of now, only two parties have formally registered to participate in the elections.
Several key opposition parties—including European Georgia, United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, and Droa—have announced they will boycott the vote. However, former PM Giorgi Gakharia’s “For Georgia” party and “Lelo – Strong Georgia” have signed a memorandum of cooperation and are now considering fielding joint candidates.
