The “National Movement” has no potential for renewal or electoral growth – they should focus on preserving their electorate and lower their tone, said political analyst Gia Khukhashvili in comments to “Interpressnews,” responding to the announced renewal process within the party.

According to him, power does not lie in parties, but in people.

“I look at this party’s renewal potential with skepticism. I do not think such potential exists. It is clear that it has a very stable electoral base, but its development perspective is practically non-existent. We can observe that in recent years the party’s capabilities have been steadily decreasing. As for renewal, it is practically impossible. When the main part of the electorate and supporters are oriented not toward politics, but toward blind loyalty to a leader, then speaking about any kind of change is, in my opinion, pointless. From a distance, Nanuka Zhorzholiani’s abilities are also clearly visible, including managerial skills, but I think she simply will not be able to do it. She may know what needs to be done, but she will face such fanatic resistance that she will gain nothing from this process except damage. This is a topic I view very skeptically. As I said, the ‘National Movement’ has no potential for renewal or electoral growth.

The vast majority of the population in Georgia is in a situation where they do not like the present represented by the current government, but they are also not ready to return to the past. They demand a choice for the future. They do not see the future in the past, meaning in the ‘National Movement.’ This party does not have the kind of renewal potential that would allow it to erase the past and start anew. Its core supporters are still living in the past, refusing to acknowledge mistakes and living within the mythology of Mikheil Saakashvili. What perspective can this have? — None. I would only advise them to focus on maintaining their electorate and to lower their tone. They should think more about politics and less about loyalty to a leader.

Today we have a situation where two leaders, Bidzina and Mikheil, want their confrontation to fill the entire political space. They appear to be opponents, but in many ways they are very similar. No one wants this era of leaders anymore. Neither of them is needed. What is needed is healthy, normal, human politics, not the clash of mythological heroes in the clouds.

As for the opposition alliance, it is an unclear system. The existence of such alliances is an order from the authorities. There is no political substance in it. We must understand one thing: power is not in parties. No matter how parties group together, real power lies with the people. The government reacts only to power, meaning to public sentiment. Whoever has the ambition to be in politics must focus on attracting supporters. As long as protest remains fragmented, the government maintains stability,” Khukhashvili said.