[75] By 2011, the United National Movement government led by the President Mikheil Saakashvili had become increasingly unpopular during its rule since 2004 for its neoliberal economic policy, extremely punitive criminal justice system and confrontational approach to Russia.

[78] The party also included several notable people such as the politician Sozar Subari, former diplomat Tedo Japaridze, chess grandmaster Zurab Azmaiparashvili, writer Guram Odisharia and famed footballer Kakha Kaladze, which helped it consolidate support.

[89] The new government introduced the State Universal Healthcare Program, making emergency surgeries and childbirth free of charge, increased welfare spending, and initiated reforms on self-governance, law enforcement agencies, and agriculture.

Utilizing their supermajority, Georgian Dream made grand amendments to the constitution, such as completing the transition to a parliamentary system and the abolition of the direct presidential elections.

[107] After a stronger than expected performance from the opposition in the first round, Ivanishvili put together a scheme in which the debts of 600,000 Georgians would be written-off and covered by his charity, in an attempt to secure Zourabichvili's victory.

Georgian Dream leader Ivanishvili said the protest was legitimate, but the situation was exploited by the opposition parties to storm the parliament building, thus the police measures were necessary to prevent a coup.

[123] Gakharia resigned as Prime Minister in February 2021, citing his opposition to the court-ordered arrest of his political rival UNM leader Nika Melia on charges of organizing violence in the 2019 protests.

[125] On 19 April 2021, Georgian Dream and the opposition signed an agreement mediated by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, which ended the six-month political crisis that stemmed from the contested 2020 parliamentary election.

[149] In the second half of her tenure, President Zourabichvili became increasingly alienated from Georgian Dream, as she criticized the government for what she described as the lack of commitment to the EU candidacy and limited support to Ukraine.

[150] In the fall of 2023 Georgian Dream alleged Zourabichvili had violated the Constitution with these actions, but ultimately failed to impeach her due to lack of parliamentary support from the opposition.

[156] Shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, several Ukrainian officials made remarks suggesting Georgia and Moldova to open a "second front" against Russia.

[166][167] The Western officials has dismissed the government's claims, with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O'Brien referring to it as "Reddit page coming to life".

The MPs expressed strong anti-western sentiments and spread conspiracy theories such as that in exchange for EU candidate status, the West ordered Georgia to partially give up its sovereignty and go to war with Russia.

[196] Mamuka Mdinaradze, the parliamentary majority leader, has stated that threatening Georgian officials with sanctions over passing legislation is unacceptable and instead asked the US to take steps that will strengthen Georgia-US partnership, like the introduction of free economic relations, visa liberalization, and direct flights with Georgia.

[199][200] Georgian Dream presented the election as a choice between "war and peace, moral degradation and traditional values, Georgia's subservience to external powers and an independent and sovereign state".

Georgian Dream justifies the ban by accusing the parties of collaborating with UNM, which GD considers to have committed crimes during its rule, such as "dragging country in the 2008 war with Russia" and instituting "the system of violence and torture".

[285] Georgian Dream leaders have maintained the party's official goal is still the Western integration, stating that Georgia will become "a member of the big family called Europe with our own identity and sovereignty".

[288] Political analyst and a former member of Georgian Dream coalition Paata Zakareishvili, has described the party as "undemocratic but not anti-democratic, not Western but not anti-Western, not Russian but not anti-Russian.

"[289] Georgian Dream espouses centre-left fiscal and economic views, based on maintaining welfare state, free-of-charge public healthcare and education, regulatory approach to the market, and a number of environmental protection policies.

[292] In 2017, Georgian Dream deputies supported the removal of the constitutional ban on progressive taxation and the requirement to hold a referendum to raise corporate and income tax rates.

He said the "small state idea is a myth impeding the country's development" and called on the government to play an active role in the economy, emphasizing that Georgia should become economically more self-sufficient.

[303] Prime Minister Garibashvili said this step was necessary to avoid confusion in society that the anti-discrimination law granted any new rights or privileges to any group and that it would lead to same-sex marriages in the future.

The ruling party presented this initiative as part of their commitment to uphold "national values and traditions," in line with their campaign promises to ban "LGBT propaganda" and reinforce the role of the Church.

[291][336] Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi, has highlighted the importance of taking some "unpopular steps" in order to improve the existing ecological situation and create green spaces.

[209] However, the more Georgia advanced with European integration, requiring the need for judicial, rule of law, and anti-corruption reforms, the more strained the party's relationship with the EU leaders became.

[346] This converged with increasing anti-western propaganda by Georgian Dream leaders, piloting what some consider pro-Russian narratives, "seemingly designed to offend" its Western partners.

[361] At first, Georgian Dream pursued NATO membership for Georgia, but in line with its political development, the party effectively abandoned this policy by 2019,[226] which became most visible after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

[176][342][345][347][382][383] Georgian Dream however dismisses the "pro-Russian" labeling, claiming that their approach is focused on a balancing act between Russia and other regional powers intended to maintain peace and stability in Georgia.

The primary conflict had to do with ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili being granted Ukrainian citizenship and being placed in various governmental positions, while the Georgian government sought his extradition and prosecution for abuse of power, embezzlement, and his implication in the attempted murder of an opposition MP.

[402] Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of Georgian Parliament argued Georgia is restricted to do more by the presence of Russian troops on its territory, not far from the capital.