New Rights

The New Rights Party (NRP) (Georgian: ახალი მემარჯვენეები, Akhali Memarjveneebi), also translated as New Conservative Party (NCP), is a liberal conservative party in Georgia. It is an associate member of the International Democrat Union and applicant of the European People's Party.

On December 8, 2008, the New Rights Party joined the Republican Party of Georgia in a new opposition alliance.^[1] Both parties united in "The Alliance for Georgia" led by Irakli Alasania, Georgia's ex-envoy to the United Nations in February 2009.^[2]

Establishment

Former logo of the New Rights Party.

The idea to establish the NRP began to emerge during the time when Eduard Shevardnadze was still President and his Citizens’ Union of Georgia (CUG) was an influential force on the political stage of the country.

After formation, despite small membership, the New Faction (at that point there were only ten members) managed to significantly change the situation in the Parliament.

The original membership of the New Faction consisted of David Gamkrelidze (presently NRP chairman), Levan Gachechiladze, Pikria Chikhradze, Gia Karkarashvili, Irakli Iashvili, David Saganelidze (presently NRP Secretary General), David Koghuashvili, Dodo Shelia, George Kvirikashvili, and Valeri Kvaratskhelia.

On June 15, 2001, on the basis of the New Faction, New Movement, and Neo-Conservative Union, a new political party - the New Conservative Party of Georgia - was formed. Levan Gachechiladze was elected as NRP chairman and David Gamkrelidze as co-chairman.

Elections

In only a year from its formation, the New Rights Party achieved considerable results. In the local elections held on June 2, 2002, NRP came out first nationwide and third in Tbilisi. After the victory in the local elections, the party set itself preparing for the parliamentary elections. A few months prior to the November 2, 2003 parliamentary elections, the NRP 2nd Congress elected David Gamkrelidze as a new chairman. The New Conservatives managed to successfully overcome the established seven percent threshold. A number of parties boycotted the November 2, 2003 election results accusing the authorities of fraud. This triggered fierce public discontent nationwide, which eventually resulted in the toppling of Shevardnadze’s regime in the Rose Revolution.

Despite the just outrage of the people, the NRP considered it unacceptable that the government should be changed by means of street demonstrations, as they believed it to be unconstitutional.

Participating in the repeat elections of 2004, the New Conservatives passed the seven percent threshold once again. The NRP united with another center-right party – Industry will Save Georgia – and formed a Coalition Right Opposition.

References

External links

• Official web site