In the small country of Georgia, a significant parliamentary election took place on Saturday, with many citizens viewing it as a crucial vote on the nation’s future prospects of joining the European Union. The campaign has been dominated by foreign policy and marked by a bitter fight for votes, with allegations of smear campaigns and intimidation tactics. Some Georgians reported being pressured to vote for the ruling party, Georgian Dream, leading to concerns about authoritarianism and a possibility of the country drifting towards Russia’s orbit.
The pre-election atmosphere was hotly contested, with Georgian Dream vowing to ban opposition parties if it wins, and the opposition accusing the party of launching a “hybrid war” against its citizens. Georgian Dream, which has been led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has made its fortune in Russia and has been accused of being a symbol of authoritarianism. Ivanishvili has promised to hold opposition parties accountable under the full force of the law for alleged “war crimes” committed against the Georgian people.
The election is seen as a critical vote, with Georgians electing 150 lawmakers from 18 parties. If no party secures the 76 seats required to form a government, the president will invite the largest party to form a coalition. Many believe that the outcome of this election will determine whether Georgia will continue on its path towards EU membership or slide towards authoritarianism and closer ties with Russia.
Bidzina Ivanishvili (Image via Getty)
According to polls, about 80% of Georgians support joining the EU, and the country’s constitution obliges its leaders to pursue membership in the bloc and NATO. However, the EU put Georgia’s bid for entry on hold indefinitely after Georgian Dream passed a “Russian law” cracking down on freedom of speech in June. The opposition parties have signed up to a charter aimed at carrying out the reforms required by the EU to join, but have refused to unite into a single party.
The election has been marked by controversy, with a video circulating on social media showing a man stuffing ballots into a box at a polling station in the town of Marneuli. An investigation was launched, and the central election commission declared that all results from the polling station would be declared invalid.
The outcome of this election is crucial for Georgia’s future, with many Georgians viewing it as an existential vote. The country’s president, Salome Zourabichvili, has described it as an election that will determine whether Georgia gets back on track to EU membership or falls into Russia’s orbit. Georgians are keenly aware that the EU has expressed serious concerns about the course of action taken by the Georgian government, and many are worried about the party’s attempts to divide the opposition and silence its critics.
