Rightist Opposition

The Rightist Opposition is an alliance of Georgia’s New Rights and Industrialists Parties. It is the only opposition group that successfully won over seven percent of the votes on March 28, 2004, which was the necessary threshold to secure seats in Parliament.

Both New Rights and Industrialists find their support largely in the private enterprise community and are particularly popular with those employed in the private sector. As a result, for years the two parties fought each other for the same electorate. While the alliance was formed only weeks before the elections, the party leaders have agreed to merge their two groups into one party, forming the center-right alternative to left-of-center National Movement, which currently governs Georgia.

The Rightist Opposition is led by David Gamkrelidze of New Rights and Gogi Topadze of the Industrialists. The alliances main political priorities include securing a flat tax system in Georgia; reducing government regulations on business; increasing economic growth and job creation in the private sector; rising defense spending and securing NATO membership no later than 2010; and promoting liberal democratic political institutions.