State for the People (Georgian: სახელმწიფო ხალხისთვის, romanized: sakhelmts'ipo khalkhistvis) was a political alliance in Georgia formed around State for the People party in opposition to the ruling Georgian Dream party. The alliance was formed in 2016 participating in the parliamentary election held the same year with its electoral number being 1. The coalition failed to cross the 5% threshold needed to enter the parliament dissolving soon after its loss.
State for the People სახელმწიფო ხალხისთვის | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Paata Burchuladze |
| Founder | Giorgi Vashadze Zurab Japaridze Mamuka Katsitadze |
| Founded | 18 August 2016 |
| Dissolved | 2016 |
| Ideology | Liberalism[1] Populism[1] Anti-establishment[1] Atlanticism[2] |
| Former constituent parties | State for the People New Georgia New Rights Party NPC - Girchi |
| Colors | Red and White |
History
edit
On 5 August 2016, New Rights Party along with two United National Movement splinter parties New Political Centre – Girchi and New Georgia announced the formation of an electoral bloc ahead of the year's parliamentary election.[3] Two weeks later, the parties offered Paata Burchuladze's State for the People to join the coalition, an invitation the party accepted on 18 August.[4][5]
The coalition was plagued by infighting from the start with several politicians from State for the People party deciding to leave the party due to its alliance with former UNM lawmakers. Burchuladze claimed this was the result of "huge pressure" from the State Security Service.[1][5] Khatuna Lagazidze, one of the politicians who left the State for the People party, asked the government for protection citing the threats she received from the party.[6]
10 days before the election, the coalition experienced its largest schism with NPC – Girchi formally quitting the bloc with its leader Zurab Japaridze accusing the alliance of "blackmailing" the party.[7][8] The coalition went on to win 3.45% of the vote, finishing sixth and below the 5% threshold required to enter the parliament. It dissolved soon after.
Ideology
editState for the People was described as a coalition between four pro-Western parties with its leader Paata Burchuladze defining the coalition as a "pro-Western opposition to Georgian Dream". It has been described as a group with liberal and populist leanings and anti-establishment tone.[2][1] Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of New Georgia, described their uniting principles as being "personal liberties, economic liberties and the Western choice".[3]
Electoral performance
editParliamentary election
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Paata Burchuladze | 60,681 | 3.45 | 0 / 150
|
New | 6th | Extra-parliamentary |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Carles Jovaní (6 October 2016). "Has democracy become routine in Georgia? A competitive parliamentary election suggests so". Common Space.
- ^ a b Thea Morrison (20 August 2016). "Georgia's Burchuladze Forms Coalition with 3 Pro-Western Parties". Georgia Today.
- ^ a b "NPC-Girchi, New Georgia, New Rights Form Electoral Bloc". Civil Georgia. 5 August 2016.
- ^ "Burchuladze's Party Mulls Forming Election Bloc". Civil Georgia. 18 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Opera Singer's Party Forms Election Bloc with NPC-Girchi, New Georgia, New Rights". Civil Georgia. 18 August 2016.
- ^ "Burchuladze's team-mate splits, asks authorities for protection". Democracy & Freedom Watch. 9 September 2016.
- ^ "Burchuladze-Led Election Bloc's List of MP Candidates". Civil Georgia. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
- ^ "State for People Election Bloc's List of MP Candidates". Civil Georgia. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 2023-03-16.