Unity – National Movement (Georgian: ერთიანობა – ნაციონალური მოძრაობა, romanized: ertianoba – natsionaluri modzraoba) is an informal politician coalition of pro-Western political parties in Georgia. The coalition includes United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, and European Georgia. It is running in the 2024 parliamentary election. Since formal electoral blocs are banned the coalition is running on UNM's list with its electoral number being 5.
Unity – National Movement ერთიანობა – ნაციონალური მოძრაობა | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | U–NM |
| Spokesperson | Levan Sanikidze[1] |
| Leaders | Tinatin Bokuchava |
| Founded | 20 July 2023[a] 8 July 2024 |
| Headquarters | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| Ideology | Pro-Europeanism[2] |
| Political position | Centre-right[3] |
| Constituent parties | United National Movement Strategy Aghmashenebeli European Georgia Supported by: Progress and Freedom Victorious Georgia Law and Justice |
| Colors | Red White |
| Seats in Parliament | 17 / 150
|
| Municipal Councilors | 467 / 2,068
|
History
edit
On 20 July 2023, United National Movement (UNM) and Strategy Aghmashenebeli (SA) announced the formation of a political coalition titled Victory Platform with the aim of unifying pro-Western opposition in Georgia and defeating Bidzina Ivanishvili and his ruling Georgian Dream party in the upcoming 2024 parliamentary election.[4] The alliance was later renamed to Unity - To Save Georgia (which was itself altered to Unity – National Movement) on 8 July 2024.[5] The parties in the coalition are signatories to the Georgian Charter initiated by the president Salome Zourabichvili that sets out goals for a possible future government.[6]
The leadership of the platform includes Tina Bokuchava, chairperson of UNM, and Giorgi Vashadze, chair of Strategy Agmashenebeli, as well as independent MPs Tamar Kordzaia and Armaz Akhvlediani. Sopo Japaridze, a representative of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, also plays a role, alongside political scientist and professor Gia Japaridze and historian and writer Lasha Bakradze. Civic activists Ana Mosadze and Irakli Pavlenishvili, a member of UNM, are involved, along with Lasha Diarovi, leader of the youth wing of Strategy Agmashenebeli.[5]
Following an internal dispute and split within European Georgia (with departing members forming a new party called the Federalists), the remaining members of European Georgia joined Unity - National Movement.[7][8]
Notes
edit- ^ As Victory Platform
References
edit- ^ "თინა ბოკუჩავამ „ერთიანობა - ნაციონალური მოძრაობის" საარჩევნო კამპანიის პრესსპიკერად ლევან სანიკიძე წარადგინა". Interpressnews (in Georgian). 2024-09-29. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ "Major Georgian Parties Unite for Pro-European 'Platform for Victory': A Pre-Election Twist". Caucasus Watch. 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Is Unity left-wing or right-wing?". PolitPro.
- ^ ""Platform of Victory" - Two opposition parties in Georgia present a new political platform". JAM News. 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b "UNM, Strategy Aghmashenebeli Announce Political Platform: 'Unity – to Save Georgia'". Civil Georgia. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Opposition Parties Sign Georgian Charter". Civil Georgia. 3 June 2024.
- ^ "European Georgia Joins Unity-National Movement". 1TV. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Politicians who left "European Georgia" founded a new party – "Federalists" | Rustavi2". Rustavi 2. Retrieved 2024-09-12.