Georgian Dream

Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (GD), also colloquially known as the Kotsebi, is a conservative and populistpolitical party in Georgia, which has ruled the country since 2012. Bidzina Ivanishvili, who founded the party on 19 April 2012 and is widely considered to be the de facto leader of Georgia, serves as the party's honorary chairman. The party's electoral number is 41.

The party won the general election in 2012, being part of an eclectic coalition also called Georgian Dream, which included both pro-Westernliberal and anti-NATOnationalist parties. Subsequently, the Georgian Dream party (independent of its coalition) also won all subsequent general elections and is a ruling party of the country.

Georgian Dream originally declared itself a centre-left, pro-European party and held rather conservative social views. It was originally an observer member of the Party of European Socialists (PES). However, over time it moved in an explicitly culturally conservative, illiberal, and Eurosceptic direction, leading to its expulsion by PES in 2023. It is today described as a "left-conservative" or syncretic party, despite remaining to the left on fiscal matters. In foreign policy, the party officially supports a balancing act between European integration and pragmatic relations with the Russian Federation. Their opponents have accused the party of anti-Western and pro-Russia foreign policy, with the party denying the allegations.

Georgian Dream has promoted conspiracy theories, including claims about a deep state, shadow government, globalists, freemasons, Great Replacement, George Soros, and a "Global War Party". It has also passed legislation considered by the United States and European Union as contradicting the EU and NATO membership policies. In 2024, the U.S. sanctioned leading Georgian Dream officials for "undermining democracy", "violating human rights, and working for the benefit of the Russian Federation". GD leaders have also been sanctioned by several EU member states for similar reasons.