Mamuka Mdinaradze, Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, emphasized that Georgia’s European integration is based on traditional and Christian values, rejecting the notion that Europeanism could be used as a “bait” to sway the country. He highlighted the nation’s significant economic growth and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to maintaining Georgia’s sovereignty and cultural identity.
Speaking at an election campaign event in Kutaisi, Mdinaradze emphasized that for Georgians, Europe is not a distant ideal but a natural extension of the country's long-standing Christian and cultural traditions. He dismissed the idea that European integration could be used as leverage against the country, asserting that Georgian values are inherently European and rooted in its faith and history. He underscored that the Georgian Dream will work to strengthen this interpretation of Europeanism.
Mdinaradze also pointed to Georgia’s economic success, noting that the country has achieved a remarkable 10% growth rate, which places it at the top of European economies. He stated that this growth came as a result of Georgia's independent policies, without bowing to external pressures. “We are not going to Europe with an outstretched hand,” he said, celebrating the fact that Georgia achieved EU candidate status while maintaining its national dignity.
The ruling party, Mdinaradze said, has refused to adopt policies imposed from abroad, including its stance on rejecting same-sex marriage and banning LGBT propaganda. These actions, he claimed, align with Georgian society's conservative values and reflect the country's commitment to defending its traditional identity.
“Europeanism cannot be a bait for us. Europe and Europeanness for us are traditional, with Christian values, and we will try to strengthen this approach in Europe as well,” Mdinaradze asserted during his speech.
He also highlighted the party’s achievements: “Georgian Dream has achieved the impossible. Today, with an economic growth rate of 10 percent, we are not just leading in the region, but in Europe.”
Mdinaradze further elaborated on the government's stance on sovereignty, stating, “We became a candidate country for EU membership without standing on one foot, refusing to accept decisions from the outside.”
Lastly, he invoked the legacy of Ilia Chavchavadze, stressing the importance of preserving Georgia's core values: “We will fulfill the words of the great Ilya, that estate, language, and faith will be the first warning for us.”
Mdinaradze did not shy away from criticizing the opposition, accusing them of betraying the country’s interests by aligning with external forces. He named former president Mikheil Saakashvili and other opposition leaders as responsible for past national failings, and urged voters to reject them.
“We must show the whole world that Georgia and the Georgian people will never stand on the side of the sellers of their country,” he stated, calling for national unity ahead of the upcoming election.
Mdinaradze closed his speech by reaffirming that Georgian Dream’s approach to Europe is centered on peace, dignity, and prosperity, promising that this path will lead Georgia to full European integration. "Only with peace, only with dignity, only towards Europe."
