Georgia's Pivotal Elections: A Choice Between the West and Russia
Voters in Georgia are casting their ballots on October 26 in parliamentary elections that could determine the future course of the Caucasus nation in relation to either the European Union or Russia. The highly anticipated elections see the ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, face a fragmented opposition that is advocating for closer ties with the West.
The Georgian Dream party has framed the elections as a stark choice between peace and war, suggesting that a victory for the opposition would lead Georgia into conflict with Russia. Conversely, the opposition presents the vote as a critical decision regarding Georgia's alignment with Western democratic values versus authoritarianism, a sentiment reflected by officials from the United States and Europe who have been vocal about their concerns regarding democratic backsliding under Georgian Dream's leadership.
Reporting from the Central Election Commission indicated that despite minor technical issues, voting was proceeding smoothly across the country's 3,111 polling stations. Changes to the electoral system have instituted a 5 percent threshold for parties or coalitions to secure representation in parliament, encouraging opposition groups to form alliances that might enable them to surpass this barrier.
Founded by billionaire former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has been described as Georgia’s richest man, Georgian Dream's governance has drawn criticism for passing controversial laws, particularly one requiring organizations that receive 20 percent or more of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents—a measure dubbed the “Russian law” for its repressive undertones reminiscent of similar Russian legislation aimed at stifling dissent.
The passing of this law had triggered significant protests earlier this year and led to sanctions from the United States against several Georgian officials, alongside threats to cut aid to Tbilisi. Likewise, the European Union has voiced potential consequences, including the suspension of Georgia's visa-free access to member states, should the elections fail to meet standards of fairness and transparency.
Alongside issues regarding foreign influence, Georgian Dream has also underlined societal conservatism, especially concerning LGBT rights, further polarizing public sentiment.
The leading opposition coalitions include Unity – To Save Georgia, spearheaded by the former ruling United National Movement (UNM); Coalition for Change, comprised mainly of former ENM figures; Strong Georgia, which aims to occupy a neutral stance between Georgian Dream and ENM; and For Georgia, a party that split from Georgian Dream. With a shared goal of dismantling Georgian Dream’s 12-year reign and revitalizing the stalled bid for EU membership, these parties have focused their campaign efforts on attacking the ruling party rather than each other.
In a significant strategic move, the opposition parties have agreed that, should they emerge victorious, President Salome Zurabishvili will head a technocratic government dedicated to restoring positive relations with the West and repealing draconian laws enacted by Georgian Dream. Although her role is largely ceremonial, Zurabishvili has clashed with the ruling party on several occasions.
For the first time, Georgia is implementing a new electronic voting system alongside a paper backup, with results anticipated to be reported within one to two hours after the polls close at 8 PM local time. As the nation votes, the outcome of this election will not only shape domestic policies but will also influence Georgia's international relations, particularly in its efforts to forge a path towards European integration while maintaining a complicated relationship with Russia.
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