On 10 September, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party named its 20 top candidates of its 120-member party list for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 31 October.

The ruling party will keep Giorgi Gakharia as its candidate for prime minister, stating Gakharia’s “high level of professionalism and patriotism, as well as his excellent leadership and management skills” as reasons for the choice. Archil Talakvadze will again serve as the parliament speaker. Other notable candidates on the list included the party's executive secretary Irakli Kobahidze, Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, the head of Georgia’s National Tourism Administration Mariam Kvrivishvili and the country’s Bussines Ombudsman Mikheil Daushvili.

Speaking in front of the public, GD’s chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili outlined the main directions of his party for the upcoming elections. “The idea of ​​creating the Georgian Dream party was that Georgia should be a European country, where people and their dignity are protected, everyone can provide for their family, where peace, stability and development are guaranteed,” he said. “I promise you, our party will work steadily to maintain the achievements and look out for progress, that tomorrow will be better, Georgia will be a safer country, closer to integration, closer to Europe and NATO,” he added.

Ivanishvili emphasized that his party will do its best to ensure higher standards for democracy, better protection of human rights, economic progress. He added that the Georgian Dream “will continue to build roads, bridges, tunnels, universities, schools, and kindergartens, to support the Georgian village, to care for the people and their health.”

Gakharia stressed that if the GD wins, the key task would be a rapid economic recovery, decent jobs and the Georgian people will be at the centre of his party’s program. Speaking of the election campaign, Gakharia stated that the process will be conducted calmly, efficiently and fairly. “It should be a victory for everyone. This should be an election free from political extremes,” he noted. 

The British company “Survation” published their public opinion polls, commissioned by the Rustavi 2 TV channel, for the upcoming elections. According to the polls, the GD would receive 55,7% of the votes, United National Movement 16,2%, Giorgi Vashadze - Strategy Aghmashenebeli 6%, European Georgia 5,6%, Labour party 4,5% and the Alliance of Patriots 3,9%.  The political party “Lelo”, created last year by the co-founders of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, had the highest support of voters among newly formed parties in Georgia, with 3,5% of support, followed by Girchi  with 2,2% and United Georgia with 1%. According to the survey, 68,9% of the questioned people said they would go to the elections and vote, 12,5% answered 'maybe', 6% said that they are not going to vote, and 0,4% said that they “don't know.”