Georgian Dream Secures Parliamentary Majority Amid Controversy
In a significant political event, the ruling party Georgian Dream has secured an absolute majority in the Georgian parliamentary elections held on Saturday. According to preliminary results reported by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Georgian Dream received 53 percent of the vote. Following the ruling party are several opposition blocs: Coalition for Change with 112 votes, Unity with 98, Strong Georgia with 904, and Gakharia for Georgia with 82 votes. All four opposition coalitions successfully entered Parliament, surpassing the 5 percent electoral threshold.
This election outcome empowers Georgian Dream to form a government independently, a scenario that the opposition had actively tried to avert. The ruling party has faced criticism both domestically and from Western nations regarding its perceived rapprochement with the Kremlin. Critics point to its refusal to join sanctions against Russia following the ongoing war in Ukraine, the establishment of air travel between Georgia and Russia, and the passage of repressive laws reminiscent of those in Russia.
The opposition coalitions—Unity, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia, and Gakharia for Georgia—initially agreed to establish a technical government should Georgian Dream fail to secure a parliamentary majority. However, the emerging trends from the vote counting diminish the likelihood of this outcome.
The recent elections, which were monitored by over 1,700 foreign observers from 76 international organizations alongside more than 23,000 local observers from 111 national organizations, witnessed relatively calm procedures. Nevertheless, incidents of altercations and other violations were reported during the voting process.
Notably, this election introduced a purely proportional system for seat distribution, ensuring that nearly 90 percent of voters could cast their ballots electronically. The CEC announced that preliminary results would be disclosed two hours after the polling stations closed at 10:00 PM local time (6:00 PM GMT).
As the political landscape in Georgia continues to evolve, the implications of Georgian Dream's victory, coupled with ongoing tensions with Russia and domestic opposition, will play a critical role in shaping the country's future.
Related Sources: