Georgia’s recent election has been marred by controversy, as the ruling Georgian Dream party declared a decisive victory but faces accusations of vote manipulation and intimidation from opposition groups and international observers. Georgian Dream, led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, secured 54% of the vote according to official counts, though exit polls from opposition-aligned channels suggested otherwise.
The opposition, including parties like United National Movement and Coalition for Change, called the outcome fraudulent and said that irregularities did indeed affect the result. The two groups therefore plan to boycott parliament, raising political tension.
President Salome Zourabichvili accused the ruling party Georgian Dream of “total falsification” and called for protests, openly accusing it of misgovernance. According to international observers, there were serious problems ranging from intimidation to ballot-stuffing.
ISFED, Georgia’s main election watchdog, as well as representatives of the National Democratic Institute of the EU, stated that the election did not meet democratic standards. The leaders of the EU expressed concern over the situation, freezing Georgia’s bid to join the EU due to “democratic backsliding” since the Georgian Dream party has passed legislation perceived as limiting freedom for NGOs and minority groups.
Notably, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban already congratulated Georgian Dream and is expected to visit Tbilisi soon, a move unlikely to be well received by the EU. The party leader, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, also used the election period to advocate for reconciliation with Russia and the reintegration of breakaway regions like Abkhazia and South Ossetia. But this stance has fueled further debate over the party’s intentions and the future of Georgia’s pro-European trajectory.
