In response to criticism over the inclusion of successful athletes on the election list, Georgian Dream deputy Beka Odisharia stated that their "bullying is shameful."
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"Sportsmen are individuals who best understand the value of hard work and have achieved great success through their efforts. The public's trust and admiration for these people are immense. What is so difficult to understand about a few of them representing their field in the Georgian Parliament and working to improve the overall situation in Georgian sports?
We don't put “losers” on our list; we only include successful people, unlike the marginal opposition.
Therefore, the inclusion of successful people in the Georgian Dream list is a very natural phenomenon," said Odisharia, who is not in the party's first lineup, to reporters.
According to him, the inclusion of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairperson of Georgian Dream, on the election list is also “a very natural thing”: “The man entered politics, and he is an unquestioned leader and authority for Georgian Dream and for our many thousands of supporters. He will certainly become a member of Parliament.”
Georgian Dream presented the first lineup of its election list yesterday. At the top of the list is Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party's founder and honorary chairman, while Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is in the second position. Olympic champions are also among the top ten, with weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze as the seventh candidate and wrestler Geno Petriashvili in the tenth spot.
The ruling party also aims to include former athletes in Parliament. Recently, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze nominated Varlam Lipartiliani, a former judoka and vice-champion of the Rio Olympics, as Samgori's delegate; Zuka Rurua, former captain and coach of the national water polo team, as Vake's delegate; and former rugby player Davit Kacharava as Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi' delegate. Kacharava is currently a deputy in the 2020-2024 parliamentary term and represents a branch of the ruling party, People's Power. Vladimir Khinchegashvili, the acting mayor of Gori, former wrestler, and Rio Olympics champion, is the delegate for Gori-Kaspi.
