New Rights Party

Establishment

The idea to establish the NRP began to emerge during the time when Eduard Shevardnadze was still President and his Citizens’ Union of Georgia (CUG) was an influential force on the political stage of the country.

After formation, despite small membership, the New Faction (at that point there were only ten members) managed to significantly change the situation in the Parliament.

The original membership of the New Faction consisted of David Gamkrelidze (chairman), Levan Gachechiladze, Pikria Chikhradze, Gia Karkarashvili, Irakli Iashvili, David Saganelidze, David Koghuashvili, Dodo Shelia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and Valeri Kvaratskhelia.

On , on the basis of the New Faction, New Movement, and Neo-Conservative Union, a new political partythe New Conservative Party of Georgiawas formed. Levan Gachechiladze was elected as NRP chairman and David Gamkrelidze as co-chairman.

Elections

In only a year from its formation, the New Rights Party achieved considerable results. In the local elections held on , NRP came out first nationwide and third in Tbilisi. After the victory in the local elections, the party set itself preparing for the parliamentary elections. A few months prior to the parliamentary elections, the NRP 2nd Congress elected David Gamkrelidze as a new chairman. The New Conservatives managed to successfully overcome the established 7 percent threshold. A number of parties boycotted the election results accusing the authorities of fraud. This triggered fierce public discontent nationwide, which eventually resulted in the toppling of Shevardnadze's regime in the Rose Revolution.

Despite the outrage of the people, the NRP considered it unacceptable that the government should be changed by means of street demonstrations, as they believed it to be unconstitutional.

Participating in the repeat elections of 2004, the New Conservatives passed the 7 percent threshold once again. The NRP united with another center-right partyIndustry will Save Georgiaand formed a Coalition Right Opposition.

References

References

1. Joseph Alexander Smith. (December 2021). ""STAYING POWER" - Accounting for Ephemerality in the Georgian Party System Since 2012". Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
2. Valerian Dolidze. (2005). "Political parties and party development in Georgia". Central Asia and the Caucasus.
3. "დამოუკიდებელი საქართველოს ისტორია ჩატარებული არჩევნების მიხედვით: 2003 - 2004 ორი მოწვევის პარლამენტი ერთ ვადაში V - VI მოწვევის პარლამენტი". Radio Tavisufleba.