International Republican Institute (IRI) released a new public opinion poll on November 7, showing growing skepticism amongst Georgians on the country’s future and concern on the economy with most Georgians not expecting to receive the EU candidacy status in 2023.
Staggering 62% said the country was heading in the wrong direction with only 30% believing the opposite.
Disappointment with political parties
Overwhelming disappointment with Georgian political partiers is one of the poll’s key findings.
72% said they wished to see new parties in the future elections with only 22% satisfied with the choices in place today.
Impressive 42% said none of the Georgian political parties represents their interests. In the same context 35% said they distrust Georgian political parties while only 22% are “satisfied” with the choices of political parties available at this time.
This being said, political pluralism is in demand: 48% strongly and 26% somewhat agreed that “It is healthy for Georgia’s democracy to have multiple parties in power.”
Against the background of dominant apathy towards parties, 25% said they would vote for Georgian Dream, 12% for UNM, 3% for For Georgia Party. 2% said they would choose Girchi More Freedom, 2% - Strategy Agmashenebeli, Droa, Labour, For the People and Girchi.
Both GD and UNM have high negatives with 33% saying they would never vote for UNM and 30% for GD. The openly pro-Russian Patriots’ Alliance has 18% of “never vote” ranking.
EU Candidate Status
50% of the respondents do not expect Georgia to receive the EU membership candidacy status with 64% placing responsibility on the government for what they think is an imminent failure.
Unlike Ukraine and Moldova, the European Union did not grant candidacy status to Georgia putting forth 12 conditions for the country to comply with one of which is “deoligarchization.”
55% of Respondents aware of the EU’s 12 recommendations believe that Georgia will fulfil very likely or somewhat likely the EU recommendations.
Foreign Affairs
Being permitted to provide multiple responses, 51% considered the EU the most important political partner of Georgia. The other countries on the list are the USA (47%), Ukraine (24%), Turkey (16%), Azerbaijan (14%), and the UK (11%). Only 7% believed Russia is Georgia’s main partner.
Relations with Russia
While over 80% say Russia poses the greatest threat, 42% evaluate Georgian Dream’s handling of relations with the northern neighbor positively with 50% holding the opposite view.
At the same time, 78% said they are against Russian citizens entering Georgia without visa, setting up businesses or buying property.
დახურვა