O n November 7, the next survey by the US International Republican Institute (IRI) was published related to the public opinion on economic, political and security issues of Georgia. The survey was conducted between September 13 - October 2, 2022, and 1500 people participated in it.

This is IRI’s second survey this year, the previous one was conducted after the start of the Ukrainian war, on March 4-24. 

The head and secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party referred to the survey, noting that the local organization, which conducted the survey cannot be trusted. “It is very easy to see that there is a certain interest in manipulation” said Kobakhidze, referring to the ratings of the party as well as the Patriarchate. Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, also emphasized the rating of some political figures and the Patriarchate, noting that the organization, which conducted the survey, is actually deliberately damaging the image of the Patriarchate.

Georgia’s most prestigious institutions

Based on the results of the survey, the Georgian army continues to lead the list of the most prestigious Georgian institutions with a 74% favorable attitude. The second place is the Patriarchate of Georgia (with 68%), although the list of public figures, as every year, is headed by Patriarch Ilya II of Georgia (with 88%). The third place is the Police, and the fourth place is the local self-government bodies. The top five is rounded off by the Georgian media with 55%.  

Although the rating tables haven’t changed since the survey of March 2022, the percentage ratio has changed significantly. If in March 2022, 84% of the respondents had a friendly attitude towards the Georgian army, whereas in September it was 74. Based on the survey results of February 2021, 82% of the respondents had a favorable attitude towards the army. It is noteworthy, that the army had the highest rating of 93% favorable attitude in 2014-2015. 



The favorable attitude towards the Patriarchate has also decreased crucially: based on March results, it was 81%. The rating of Ilya II also changed: if 92% of respondents had a favorable attitude and 4% unfavorable in March, then according to September data, 88% had a favorable and 7% unfavorable attitude. Based on June 2021 data, the favorable attitude towards Ilya II was also 88%. 

It should be noted that both IRI and NDI include questions about the Georgian Church. IRI survey includes questions on church since 2003. It had the highest rating of 96% in 2008.  The Georgian Orthodox Church has traditionally been on the first place in NDI survey, questions about which were included in the survey since 2015. In the same year, 75% of the respondents highly rated the performance of the church. In 2017-2018 the rating decreased, then increased a little and according to the latest survey of 2019, 50% of the respondents positively assessed the performance of the church. Therefore, 75% trust in the church in 2015, became 50% based on the latest data, registering a 25% decrease within 4 years.

Georgia’s internal political image 


 

B ased on the survey, 62% of respondents said that the country moves in the wrong direction (61% based on March data).  According to the majority, the economy, unemployment and high prices are the most important problems facing the country (based on the first and second responses). 34% are in favor of the opposition’s demand to hold snap elections, and 34% are against of it.

If the parliamentary elections were tomorrow, most of the respondents (25%) would vote for the ruling party and only 12% for the United National Movement opposition party.

The majority of respondents continue its favorable attitude towards the representatives of the ruling party. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, continues to lead the list with 51%, followed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili with 44%. Anna Dolidze, the leader of the For People opposition party, is in the third place.

International relations


 

A ny survey conducted in Georgia necessarily includes questions about the EU and NATO membership. Those questions are not unimportant. Both the EU and NATO take into account the opinion of the candidate country’s society for integration. Society should strongly support the country’s choice. Therefore, the membership issue is always included in surveys.

The majority of respondents (85%) are in favor of Georgia’s membership to the EU, however, 50% do not believe that the country will receive the EU membership candidacy in 2023.  

As for Georgia’s membership to NATO, 78% are in favor of it, believing that the most important benefit of joining the Alliance would be security.  

Although the percentage of those considering Russia a constant threat is high (89%), however, 59% are in favor of dialogue with the Russian Federation. According to the respondents, Turkey (11%), the US (6%), Armenia (4%), Azerbaijan (3%) are also a political threat.    


 

As for Georgia’s political and economic partners, the picture is as follows: 

• Georgia’s most important political partners are the EU (51%), the US (47%), Ukraine (24%), Turkey (16%), Azerbaijan (14%). Armenia is on the 8^th place with a 6%. 
• Georgia’s most important economic partners are the EU (48%), the US (43%), Turkey (28%), Ukraine (19%), Azerbaijan (18%). Armenia ranks the 9^th place, with a 5%.  Russia (80%), Turkey (10%), the US (4%), Azerbaijan (3%) are considered an economic threat to Georgia. Armenia ranks the 6^th place with 2%. 

It should be noted, that the study of the IRI surveys of the last 6 years shows that Armenia’s index as a political and economic threat has slightly decreased in recent years. If in 2016, 2% of the respondents considered Armenia as a threat (both political and economic), then in 2022 it was 4%.  In 2018-2019, only 1% of the respondents considered Armenia as an economic threat and 3% of the respondents in 2021. Based on the two surveys conducted in 2022, the indicator of economic threat fluctuated between 1-2%.

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1. The fieldwork was conducted by the Institute of Polling & Marketing, the survey was coordinated by the Baltic Surveys/The Gallup organization on behalf of CISR. A question about church last time included in a survey, was in 2019. After that there is no question about church or the Patriarch in the NDI research.