On August 20, 2024, Georgian Dream (GD), the ruling party of Georgia, announced an anti-democratic, anti-liberal agenda for the upcoming October 26 elections. The party aims to secure a constitutional majority to pursue four key initiatives: banning political opposition, cracking down on “gay propaganda,” revising the governance system, and enhancing the Georgian Orthodox Church’s role in the constitution.

GD plans to outlaw major opposition parties accusing them of destabilizing the government. This message seems intended to intensify political polarization in Georgian society. Additionally, GD has adopted alarmingly anti-liberal legislation to restrict LGBTQ+ freedoms and rights and is pushing for constitutional amendment to enshrine so-called “traditional family values”. 

The party also proposes revising the governance system to address hypothetical scenarios of territorial restoration, a proposal that appears politically unfeasible and aimed at stoking nationalist sentiments. Furthermore, GD seeks to elevate the Orthodox Church’s constitutional status, but this proposal has met resistance from the Church, due to concerns about losing power.

GD’s campaign frames the election as a choice between stability and chaos, traditional values and moral decay, and sovereignty versus external dependence. GD’s campaign rhetoric deepens polarization domestically, alienates Georgia’s allies, and undermines the country’s progress on its path to EU integration.