Executive Summary:
- Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest on March 21, emphasizing Georgian Dream’s goal of defending traditional values in alliance with conservative and traditionalist forces in Europe and the United States.
- Georgian Dream considers Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party to be a main ally in fighting against liberals and “Brussels bureaucracy.” Hungary is blocking EU attempts to impose sanctions against Georgian Dream for its “anti-democratic trajectory.”
- The alliance with conservative and right-wing forces in Europe strengthens the Georgian Dream’s position in Georgia, where Christian values traditionally enjoy strong support from a significant portion of voters.
On March 21, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest. His visit to Hungary lasted only a few hours, as Georgia was preparing for the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, who died on March 17, with Kobakhidze heading the state funeral commission (see EDM, April 7). Kobakhidze’s quick trip demonstrates the importance he attaches to his relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and to Georgia’s participation in the “conservative movement” in the United States and Europe.
The annual CPAC Hungary conference began in 2022 and is part of the global expansion of the original U.S.-based CPAC. The 2026 conference, featuring the tagline “On to Victory,” presented several influential conservative figures from around the world. In addition to Orbán and Kobakhidze, the lineup included Argentinian President Javier Milei, Alice Weidel of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders. U.S. President Donald Trump and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš delivered video addresses.
Kobakhidze’s appearance marked his third address at the conference, following speeches in 2024 and 2025. In 2023, then-Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili spoke at the conference, expressing his gratitude to his “dear friend, Prime Minister Orbán” and lauding him as “a wise and visionary national leader.” He praised Hungary’s defense of its national interests and fundamental values before slamming those who propagate “false freedoms” aimed at destroying traditional values (Civil Georgia, May 4, 2023; Tabula, April 27). Recently, however, Garibashvili was sentenced to five years in prison for the legalization of illicit income involving particularly large amounts (1tv.ge January 12).
Addressing the conference, Kobakhidze said that every country “must confront a fundamental question: How can we defend our national interests without losing our values and our traditions?” He added that for Georgia, this question “is not hypothetical,” emphasizing,
“Nations remain resilient when they preserve a clear sense of identity and remain faithful to the values that define them.” He highlighted the importance of Christianity for Georgia, noting that “the Christian cultural foundation remains central to who we are as a society.”
Kobakhidze further highlighted his “hope that Europe will regain its sovereignty, Christian identity, and economic strength before Georgia becomes a member of the European Union.” The prime minister then criticized the European Union, stating, “Brussels bureaucracy cannot accept any sovereign government that defends its country’s independence and traditional values.” He asserted that many European countries “have essentially lost their identity” and praised Hungary for “protecting itself from gender propaganda, immigration, and other vices.” He described Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections as “a watershed” moment not only for Hungary but also for Europe, expressing hope that the vote will take place “without the rough interference of the Brussels bureaucracy.”
Kobakhidze thanked Orbán “for his steadfast support for Georgia,” praising him as a “true warrior” for his nation. He added that Orbán’s leadership has helped Georgia protect its “democracy, national sovereignty, and identity,” and emphasized its importance “not only for Hungary, but for all of Europe.” Kobakhidze also wished Orbán a “long tenure” as Hungary’s leader (Facebook/KobakhidzeOfficial, March 21; Imedi News, March 26).
Orbán, who took the stage shortly after, called Kobakhidze a “patriotic champion” who is “in the mouth of the Russian bear.” He also attacked both the European Union and “liberals” for trying to “undermine” Georgia. He said that Kobakhidze is “the one who upholds the sovereignty of Georgia” and described the country as the “bravest nation in Europe today” (1tv.ge, March 21). The relationship between Tbilisi and Budapest has deepened in recent years. After returning to Georgia, Kobakhidze told reporters that Hungary “remains the main defender of Georgia’s national interests in Europe” (Facebook/KobakhidzeOfficial, March 23). Hungary has repeatedly vetoed the European Union’s decision to impose sanctions against the Georgian government for human rights violations during mass protests in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities (Civil Georgia, December 10, 2024; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, December 16, 2024).
On October 29, 2024, Orbán visited Georgia after congratulating the ruling Georgian Dream party for its “overwhelming victory” in the October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections despite widespread concerns about intimidation and coercion of voters. Ministers from 13 EU countries criticized Orbán’s visit and the “violations of electoral integrity” in Georgia. Soon after Orbán’s departure, large-scale protests erupted on November 28, 2024, after Kobakhidze announced the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession negotiations until 2028 (1tv.ge, November 28, 2024; see EDM, December 6, 10, 2024).
For several years, the ruling Georgian Dream party—founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili—has positioned itself as a defender of Georgian religious and conservative values (see EDM, February 25, September 5, 2024). This shift became particularly noticeable after 2018. During its first term in office after winning the 2012 parliamentary elections, Georgian Dream passed several liberal laws. For example, on May 2, 2014, parliament approved an anti-discrimination law that protected minorities (Institute for War & Peace Reporting; Civil Georgia, May 2, 2014). In contrast, on December 2, 2024, parliament passed a law “On the Protection of Family Values and Minors,” which drew sharp criticism from the European Union and the United States for restricting the rights of sexual minorities (Council of Europe, June 25, 2024; see EDM, July 3, 2024; Civil Georgia, September 17, 2024).
Former Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili argues that this transformation reflects a political calculation to hold power. In an interview with this author, he asserted, “The Georgian Dream leaders realized that conservative values are very important to a large portion of Georgians” and that the party successfully “exploit[s] these sentiments to retain power.” Zakareishvili further asserted that when he worked with Ivanishvili in government, “His values were never conservative; he even seemed liberal to me.” Ivanishvili’s desire to “create a conservative lobby in the European Union” explains Georgian Dream’s close relationship with Orbán, given his “great influence within the European conservative family” (Author’s interview, March 28).
Opposition leaders call the partnership between Georgian Dream and Orbán’s Fidesz party an “ideological alliance.” Petre Tsiskarishvili, general secretary of United National Movement, Georgia’s main opposition party, argued in his March 28 interview with this author that the two parties “are ideologically aligned around the so-called traditional, conservative values,” adding that Georgian Dream “also hopes that Orbán will help them gain a foothold in Washington D.C. and improve relations with the Trump Administration.” He further noted that Orbán’s importance lies in his ability to “represent and lobby the Georgian regime within the European Union,” helping to “prevent impending sanctions and travel bans on Georgian Dream elites” in a similar manner to Russia (Author’s interview, March 28).
Hungary’s April 12 elections will shape future relations between Tbilisi and Budapest. The alignment between Georgian Dream and Fidesz gives Georgia an ally within the European Union, helping it to deflect pressure from Brussels.
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