Georgia's Impeachment Drama: Political Turmoil Ahead of Elections
In a dramatic turn of events, Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, is intensifying its efforts to impeach pro-West President Salome Zurabishvili just weeks before the general elections. This move has raised concerns among Western nations, particularly the United States and the European Union, who view it as an attempt to wrest control away from the president and shift the Caucasus nation closer to Russia.
The constitutional powers of President Zurabishvili are limited, but her recent initiatives to unite the opposition against the ruling party are perceived as a significant threat to Georgian Dream's dominance in the upcoming elections. Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili announced on October 7 that the party is reviving the impeachment bid, framing it around accusations that Zurabishvili violated constitutional mandates by making official visits to Brussels, France, and Germany without securing the prime minister's approval.
Should the Constitutional Court determine that the president indeed breached the law, the new parliament would be tasked with removing her from office. However, it is worth noting that Georgian Dream currently does not possess a sufficient number of votes needed for her impeachment. The presidential office has yet to comment on the renewed impeachment proceedings.
The relationship between Zurabishvili and Georgian Dream has deteriorated significantly since her candidacy was supported by the party in 2018. Their disagreements have escalated over issues such as her authority to represent Georgia abroad, culminating in a failed impeachment attempt in 2023. A notable point of contention was her refusal to endorse a contentious foreign influence bill, which many in the West and within Georgia compare to Russia's restrictive laws aimed at suppressing dissent. This bill was passed by parliament last month, which rights groups claim imposes severe restrictions on the country's LGBTQ+ community.
In her mid-May veto of the foreign agent bill, Zurabishvili condemned it as a Russian law that contradicts Georgian constitutional values and European standards, jeopardizing the country’s path towards European integration. In a significant move to override her veto, lawmakers voted 84-4 in late May, showcasing Georgian Dream's resolve despite Zurabishvili's strong objection.
The approval of the law restricting LGBTQ+ rights led to immediate backlash from the international community, with Washington enforcing sanctions against over 60 Georgians. Notably, two members of the Georgian government were included in these sanctions for actions undermining democracy and human rights, prompting Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to caution against further damage to Tbilisi's relationship with the United States.
The European Union responded differently by pausing its accession negotiations with Georgia, a country that has long worked to distance itself from Russian influence. Georgia remains under the watchful eye of the international community, particularly due to the presence of thousands of Russian troops in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, territories recognized by Moscow as independent following the 2008 war with Tbilisi.
As the political climate heats up, Georgian Dream maintains that its commitment to joining Western institutions remains unwavering, asserting that the controversial law was merely designed to enhance transparency regarding NGO funding. However, the unfolding events and the renewed impeachment efforts signal a tense and uncertain pre-election landscape for Georgia.
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