TBILISI, OCT. 18 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — The success of the Alliance of Patriots party in Georgia’s parliamentary election this month underlines the spread of conservative views amongst ordinary Georgians, analysts said.

The group, set up in 2012, became the first minor party under a new constitution to break through the 5% barrier to automatically win six seats through the proportional representation element of the election in the 150 seat parliament.

The Alliance of Patriots sees itself as staunchly pro-religion and nationalistic, views which, Tbilisi-based analyst Zaal Anjaparidze said, were reflective of a shift in public opinion.

“Opinion polls in Georgia for the last four years have been showing some rise in Euro sceptic thinking and the alienation of parts of Georgian society from liberal values,” he told The Bulletin, views held by other Georgian political commentators.

“They have succeeded in occupying this niche and capitalising on it during the election campaign.”

The Alliance of Patriots may also have an influential role to play in the next parliament as natural allies of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition which is also close to the Orthodox Church. Many of the Georgian Dream’s supporters have said that they want to change the Georgian constitution to state that marriage can only be between a man and woman.

Detractors of the constitutional amendments say it is discriminatory, anti-liberal and contrary to the values of the EU which Georgia aspires to join but its supporters know they have the backing of a large section of the public, as reflected by the success of the Georgian Dream and the Alli- ance of Patriots.

In Tbilisi, Soso, a scientist, reflected the views of many people.

“Before being an Orthodox Christian, I am Georgian,” he said. “Same sex marriage is against our tradition, our beliefs and against the true essence of being Georgian. Such an amendment is absolutely necessary.”

ENDS