IRI Qualitative Research Analyzes Public Opinion Trends in Georgia Following the October 2020 Parliamentary Elections

Tbilisi, Georgia – The October 2020 Georgian parliamentary elections, which were contested by opposition parties based on allegations of electoral fraud and resulted in an opposition boycott of parliamentary proceedings, were followed by a period of elevated political polarization as the opposition and ruling party engaged in multiple rounds of negotiations to end the political deadlock. The 2020 elections prompted public concerns related to the independence of the election administration and overall, the integrity of Georgian elections, resulting in renewed calls for electoral reforms.

In April 2021, with negotiations underway between the ruling party and opposition parties boycotting parliamentary proceedings to defuse political tensions at the time, the International Republican Institute (IRI) conducted focus group research to provide qualitative analysis on the public opinion trends emerging in the country. The report explores public sentiment on national politics in the post-election period, focusing on the conduct of the 2020 parliamentary elections; political and electoral processes, including avenues for electoral reform; and the post-election political crisis. The research findings align with the results of IRI’s 2021 public opinion polling.