David Gamkrelidze
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David Gamkrelidze or Davit Gamqrelidze (Georgian: დავით გამყრელიძე) (born April 2, 1964 in Tbilisi), is a Georgian entrepreneur and politician, Leader of the New Rights Party of Georgia, Member of Parliament since 1999, Member of Committee on Defense and Security, Chairman of the Right Opposition Group in Parliament.
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[edit] Early career
David Gamkrelidze graduated from the 55th secondary school. In 1982 he became student of the Tbilisi State Medical Institute, Faculty of Pediatrics. He was a distinguished student, holder of Tarkhnishvili Scholarship, member of the Student’s Medical Council. He was a frequent participant of various students’ international conferences and Olympiads.
Since 1988 the ‘National movement’ gains significant momentum among the majority of Georgian citizens; especially among the youth. The Georgian citizens begin to demand independence and the country is unraveled in massive protest demonstrations. In this hectic time, David Gamkrelidze, along with his friends, establishes the Christian-Democratic Association, which later was renamed into the Christian-Democratic Union.
David Gamkrelidze takes active part in the March-April 1989 protest demonstrations against Soviet Army.
Right after the tragic events of April 9, 1989 several organizations were established, the Rustaveli Society among them, of which David Gamkrelidze was member.
In the spring of 1989, with the purpose of coordinating the National Liberation Movement, the National Forum is established. The participants of the forum are Giorgi Chanturia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Irakli Batiashvili and others. The Christian-Democratic Union is represented at the Forum by David Gamkrelidze and Irakli Kakabadze. In June of the same year, the first delegation of the National Movement travels to Paris to celebrate the Independence Day of Georgia at the invitation from the Georgian Diaspora living there. David Gamkrelidze was a member of the delegation as well.
[edit] Entrepreneurship
After the collapse of the Communist regime in 1990 and Georgia’s eventual re-gaining of independence, David Gamkrelidze concludes that he has exhausted his function in the National Liberation Movement and moves to entrepreneurial activities. Along with his friends, he establishes the first ever insurance company in Georgia, the Aldagi. Very soon, Aldagi becomes the flagman of the insurance industry in Georgia. In 1999, David Gamkrelidze, as the President of Aldagi, is named among the ten most successful businessmen of Georgia.
[edit] Political activity
In 1998 Gamkrelidze is elected member of the Tbilisi City Council.
For the then ruling party (Citizens’ Union of Georgia), in order to win the general elections badly needed a certain number of successful people in its electoral party list. David Gamkrelidze, who never was member of this party, along with other businessmen agrees to take part in the elections. On October 31, 1999 David Gamkrelidze becomes member of the Parliament of Georgia. At the first session sitting, he gets elected as chairman of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee. Gradually, David Gamkrelidze and his friends realize that the ruling party does not actually care for their professionalism and commitment to the matters of national importance. The period of disenchantment begins, which reaches its peak in the spring of 2000. That is right after the ruling party presented to the Parliament the budget for ratification in 1999 and demanded from the majority of the party to endorse it.
David Gamkrelidze and Levan Gachechiladze resign in sign of protest and call for creation of a committee that would investigate the budget deficit of 1999.
On May 17, 2000 a special commission is formed with David Gamkrelidze at the chairmanship to investigate the budget deficit of 1999. In six months, David Gamkrelidze presents to the Parliament a conclusion and says the whole truth as to what the reason for the 1999 drastic budget deficit in actuality was.
On September 8, 2000 with the purpose to overcome the critical situation prevalent in the country and in order to raise public awareness in this regard, 35 professionals establish a public organization - Georgian New Movement. David Gamkrelidze is one of its founders and an active member.
On September 17, 2000 the New Faction Group is formed in the Parliament. David Gamkrelidze is elected chairman of the group.
The New Faction, despite of its smallness, significantly changes the situation in the Parliament. It truly says a totally different and new word in Georgia’s politics.
[edit] New Rights Party
On June 15, 2001 on the basis of the New Faction, Georgian New Movement and Neo-Conservators party, a political party was created. The party is called the New Rights Party of Georgia. The founding congress elected David Gamkrelidze as its co-chairman.
In a year since its founding, the New Rights reached very high results for a party which is only a year old. On June 2, 2002 the New Rights won the first place in the local elections all across Georgia, and the third place on Tbilisi level. David Gamkrelidze contributed significantly to the success of the party. He personally headed the party's election campaign. After winning the local elections, the party began to prepare for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Before November 2, 2003 elections, David Gamkrelidze was unanimously elected chairman of the party.
The results of the parliamentary elections of November 2, 2003, in which the New Rights overcame the 7-percent threshold, were abolished. New general elections were called. There was very little time left before the March 28, 2004 elections. The revolutionary sentiments were gaining momentum. Therefore, everyone inside and outside of the country was sure that none of the opposition parties would be able to succeed. From the so-called non-revolutionary parties, only the New Rights were able to overcome the 7-percent barrier. They got united with another party of center-right orientation, the Industrials and consequently successfully overcome the 7-percent threshold. David Gamkrelidze was in charge of the Industrial’s and New Right’s election campaign on March 28, 2004 as well. David Gamkrelidze becomes member of the Parliament second time. Currently, he is heading the Right Opposition Group; he is also member of the Defense and Security Committee as well as member of the Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly. His opinion, as one of the most successful opposition leaders are widely taken into account in the Western political circles.
On June 3, 2006 David Gamkrelidze was re-elected as the New Rights Party chairman at the 3rd Party Congress.
[edit] Family
Father – Erekle Gamkrelidze, Geologist, Academician of Georgia’s Academy of Sciences, one of the most distinguished representatives of the Georgian geology school. Mother – Ia Gobronidze, housewife.
David Gamkrelidze has a wife, Marina Madichi and two children - Erekle and Nino. He speaks Georgian, Russian and English.
