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Eri (political party)

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Unity, Essence, Hope
ერთობა, რაობა, იმედი
ChairmanMirian Mirianashvili[1]
FounderLevan Vasadze
Founded6 May 2021[2]
Registered8 February 2021[1]
Ideology
Political positionFar-right[2]
ReligionGeorgian Orthodox Church
Colors  Black and   Red
Sloganერთობა, რაობა, იმედი ('Unity, Essence, Hope')
Seats In Parliament
0 / 150

Unity, Essence, Hope (Georgian: ერთობა, რაობა, იმედი, romanized: ertoba, raoba, imedi, Eri Georgian: ერი, romanized: eri; lit. 'Nation') is a far-right political party in Georgia. It was founded in the spring of 2021 with the party contesting the local elections held in the same year. Levan Vasadze is the founder and Mirian Mirianashvili serves as its chairman.

Vasadze has outlined the party's position as "Georgia above all" with his priorities being restoring the country's sovereignty and ending what he calls the "liberal hegemony".[4][5][6] Despite being on the far-right of the political spectrum, the party is against economic liberalism.[6]

Vasadze has been described as a "notorious homophobe" and has participated in several anti-LGBT demonstrations. The nature of those protests has led to the party being labeled as being violent.[2][4][5][7][8] Additionally, Vasadze has been named the most significant anti-Western and Eurosceptic actor in Georgia.[9]

History

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The party was founded by a popular far-right Georgian businessman Levan Vasadze. At a press conference held on 6 May 2021, Vasadze announced the formation of Eri. He outlined what he saw as the target demographic of the party with it being voters who are disillusioned with Georgian Dream, but consider United National Movement to be the greater of the two evils.[2][9]

The party had planned to contest the 2021 local elections and to unify the far-right, however, Vasadze's health issues forced him to be largely absent from political life.[6][10] Eri subsequently only managed to get 0.04% of the vote in the election or 651 votes.[11]

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine the group has been accused of spreading misinformation about the war online.[12] The party is not participating in the 2024 parliamentary election.[13]

Ideology

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Eri has been described as far-right party and its political positions have been labeled as extreme and radical. It's ideology has been described as ultranationalism, ultraconservatism, ethnonationalism, and national conservatism.[2][3][4] The party is vocally opposed to liberalism with Vasadze having been compared to Viktor Orban.[6][9] It has been accused of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and homophobia with Vasadze being referred to as a "notorious homophobe".[2][4][7] Vasadze has been described as the biggest Eurosceptic and anti-Western actor in Georgia.[9] The party is viewed as being pro-Russian with Vasadze being described as a "Russia-friendly businessman".[2][7][10] Vasadze has referred to the allegations that he is a Kremlin agent as cynical.[14]

Eri describes its position as "Georgia above all" with Vasadze citing what he calls a violation of Georgia's sovereignty as the reason for his entrance into politics.[4][5] Vasadze has outlined ending what he calls the "liberal hegemony" in Georgia as his key objective.[6] The party is against what it refers to as "public propaganda of perversion" and has called for the ban of LGBT rights rallies.[4] Vasadze considers minority rights, LGBT rights, gender equality, and the liberal economy as being part of a "forcibly imposed ideology". He is further against the sale of land to foreigners.[6] In addition, Vasadze supports the presidential government and aims to bring back a democratically elected presidential institution with strong powers.[2]

Vasadze argues that Western civilization has collapsed and that it should be a role model only in terms of technological advance. Vasadze sees the West as assuming the role of a "patron", depriving Georgia of its sovereignty, and imposing values that he considers unacceptable.[4][6][9] Eri is accused of relying on social media networks run from Russia, especially by Alexander Dugin, whom Vasadze considers a personal friend.[6]

Electoral performance

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Local election

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Election Votes % Seats +/– Position
2021[11] 651 0.04
0 / 2,068
 new Steady 26th

References

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  1. ^ a b "პოლიტიკური პარტიების რეესტრი". National Agency of Public Registry of Ministry of Justice of Georgia.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Prevention of Far-Right Extremism in Georgia" (PDF). Democracy Research Institute. September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Parties, Parliaments and Polling Averages: Georgia". Europe Elects.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Vasadze Hosts Ultra-Conservative Rally in Tbilisi". Civil Georgia. 17 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "ლევან ვასაძემ პოლიტიკური პარტია "ერი" დააარსა". Formula News. 6 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Levan Vasadze's Quest to Consolidate Georgia's Extreme Right". Civil Georgia. 2 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b c ""ერთობა, რაობა, იმედი" - ლევან ვასაძე პარტია "ერს" აფუძნებს". Mtavari. 6 May 2021.
  8. ^ Salome Kandelaki (May 2021). "Euroscepticism and Religion in Georgian Far-right Groups' Political Agenda". Georgian Institute of Politics.
  9. ^ a b c d e Givi Silagadze (May 2020). "Is Georgian Populism Eurosceptic?" (PDF). Georgian Institute of Politics.
  10. ^ a b "Levan Vasadze's ERI: Tbilisi Sakrebulo Proportional List". Civil Georgia. 24 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b "October 2, 2021 Municipal Elections". Election Administration of Georgia.
  12. ^ "6 დეზინფორმაცია "ერი მედიას" ეთერში საქართველოსა და უკრაინაზე". Myth Detector. 19 July 2024.
  13. ^ "ცესკო: არჩევნებისთვის პოლიტიკური პარტიების ნაწილის რეგისტრაციის პროცესი დასრულდა". Publika. 19 August 2024.
  14. ^ "ვასაძე: გვაბრალებენ, რომ ვართ კრემლის აგენტები, ამაზე დიდი ცინიზმი ცხოვრებაში არ მინახავს". iPRESS. 16 June 2019.
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