Margvelashvili named most popular Georgian politician

Georgian President Georgi Margvelashvili topped the rating of political leaders of the country. According to the sociological survey by the International Republican Institute (IRI), 67% of the survey participants are sympathetic to him.

Minister of Labor, Health and Social Protection David Sergeyenko became the second popular politician (65%). Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili became the third (55%). 50% of the respondents sympathize with the former speaker of the Georgian parliament, one of the leaders of the opposition party 'Movement for Freedom-European Georgia' David Bakradze.

Results of the study, conducted in late February - early March, was published by the TV company Rustavi 2. Its full official version will be published on April 3, Sputnik-Georgia reports.

The head of the Center for Global Studies, Nana Devdariani, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, recalled that it was not the first time when surveys of the International Republican Institute (IRI) do not coincide with the mood of the society. "Often they simply show about preferences of US organizations," the expert noted.

At the same time she stressed that she does not understand why David Sergeenko was ranked second, giving first place to President Georgi Margvelashvili. "You can criticize the government of the Georgian Dream a lot, but tens of thousands of people in the country were saved because the government paid for their expensive operations." 

Moreover, it is completely incomprehensible how the president who does not have any serious powers was rated higher than the incumbent prime minister. Today, Margvelashvili is clearly in opposition to the government, which is absurd, because it was its candidacy for the post of head of state," the head of the Center for Global Studies said.

At the same time, she explained that nobody knew Margvelashvili except for a narrow circle of intellectuals. "Often Margvelashvili's opinion coincides with the opinion of the United National Movement party, as well as liberal non-governmental organizations and experts. Therefore, the center of gravity moves somewhere in another direction," the political scientist noted.

According to the head of the Institute of Management Strategy, Petre Mamradze, the president of Georgia was ranked first in the rating due to the fact that he always says what he thinks and does what he considers necessary. "That's what foreign diplomats who communicate with him say," the expert said.

At the same time, he pointed out that such a high and stable popularity of David Sergeyenko is the largest achievement of the Georgian government. "I mean the common medical insurance and medical care. In recent years it has been used by a huge number of people," the political scientist said.

"Sergeenko is trying to do his work as best as possible, therefore, of course, today he is one of the most popular people in Georgia," the  head of the Institute of Management Strategy explained.

In addition, commenting on the attitude of Georgian citizens to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the expert noted that it is quite skeptical now. At the same time, he expressed opinion that this is due to the fact that Ivanishvili simply did not meet expectations after the elections in 2012.

"Nevertheless, there are people who respect Ivanishvili, because he is the largest patron in the history of Georgia," Petre Mamradze summed up.