Lelo for Georgia

Lelo for Georgia is a centrist liberal political party in Georgia that was created at the end of 2019 by businessmen Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze. The party has attracted a number of prominent political figures and parties (through mergers), including David Usupashvili's Development Movement, the New Rights Party and Pikria Chikhradze. It also has attracted a number of centre-left political figures, such as Grigol Gegelia.
Political ambitions
The party sought to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia. The party said it sought to "defeat the bipolar system" that it sees as dominant in Georgia. They are close from the opposition alliance which formed during early 2020 in order to contest the Georgian Dream parliamentary majority.
Political views
Lelo for Georgia is a centrist and liberal party, which aims to transcend the dichotomy between the Georgian Dream and the United National Movement.
The party is willing to strengthen the economy, encourage investments in Georgia and to enhance the daily life conditions of the population. The party supports the setting of a minimum wage, parental leave, and the setting of overtime pay rates but does not support the institution of unemployment insurance.
They also claim to wish for the reestablishment of the "rule of law" and to make the judiciary power totally independent from the political class. This will is linked with the controversies linked to trials and arrests which are said to be "politically motivated", such as the case of Giorgi Ugulava. The two founders of the party, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, were both under investigation for money laundering, which they claimed to be politically motivated. The Embassy of the United States of America to Georgia noted on July 25, 2019, immediately after the criminal charge was brought against Khazaradze and Japaridze, that they were ‘concerned about the context and timing of these charges’. A similar observation was made by the 2019 US Department of State country report. The Ombudsperson of Georgia observed that “the case materials do not contain the elements necessary for assessing an action as a crime of money laundering.” In May 2020, Transparency International Georgia published a report which claimed that there was no basis to claim that Khazaradze and Japaridze were involved in money laundering. The case was dismissed in 2022, and Khazaradze and Japaridze were acquitted of all charges of money laundering.
On 2 July 2023, David Usupashvili met with Tigran Khzmalyan, chairman of the European Party of Armenia. The sides discussed opportunities for cooperation between the two political parties.
Origin of the founders
Prior to setting up the party, Khazaradze and some of his partners had set up a public movement in September 2019. Khazaradze is a co-founder of TBC Bank and of the Anaklia Development Consortium. As of January 2020, the party's program is still under development. At the same time, the party has regularly criticized the government on various policies, including relations with Russia and large infrastructure projects.
Electoral performance
Parliamentary
Local
References
2019 establishments in Georgia (country)
Centrist parties in Asia
Centrist parties in Europe
Classical liberal parties
Liberal parties in Georgia (country)
Political parties established in 2019
Political parties in Georgia (country)
Pro-European political parties in Georgia (country)