Georgia's Pivotal Parliamentary Elections: Choosing Between East and West
Voters in Georgia, a former Soviet republic, are gearing up to cast their ballots on October 26 in a crucial parliamentary election that presents a stark choice: the ruling Georgian Dream party or a splintered opposition advocating for Western integration.
Georgian Dream, which has held power since 2012, aims to secure another four-year term. The party's rhetoric has framed the election as a binary decision between peace and war, suggesting that a victory for the opposition would lead Georgia into conflict with Russia.
In contrast, opposition parties are positioning the election as a referendum on the country’s direction, pitting Western alignment against Russian influence, and highlighting a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. This narrative aligns with commentary from U.S. and European officials who have expressed concerns over democratic backsliding under Georgian Dream's governance.
The introduction of a new electoral system requires parties or coalitions to achieve a 5 percent threshold to enter parliament. This change has spurred opposition parties to form coalitions, enhancing their chances to surpass this barrier. Key opposition formations include the Unity To Save Georgia coalition, comprising the former ruling United National Movement, the Coalition for Change primarily from the ENM, Strong Georgia, which maintains a neutral stance, and For Georgia, a party that emerged from Georgian Dream itself.
Georgian Dream was established by billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, the wealthiest individual in Georgia, whose close relationship with the Kremlin is well-known, as the Kremlin appears to favor Georgian Dream’s continuation in power. Public opinion in Georgia reflects a general desire to join the European Union and NATO, though concerns also exist about avoiding confrontation with Russia. Additionally, Georgian society remains conservative on issues such as LGBT rights, influencing voters' perspectives.
The ruling party has passed controversial legislation, including a law mandating organizations receiving over 20 percent of funding from abroad to register as foreign agents, dubbed the "Russia law" by its critics. This law has drawn accusations of authoritarianism and parallels to similar measures in Russia aimed at suppressing dissent. The contentious law has prompted significant protests and led to sanctions from the United States against certain Georgian officials, alongside threats to reconsider aid to Tbilisi.
Moreover, the European Union indicated that it might reassess Georgia's visa-free travel arrangement should the elections fail to meet fair and democratic standards, as stated by the EU ambassador to Tbilisi in September.
In an effort to challenge the ruling party, opposition coalitions have directed their campaign efforts primarily at Georgian Dream, emphasizing a commitment to revive Georgia's stalled EU membership ambitions if they succeed in defeating the ruling party. In a show of unity, opposition groups have agreed that, in the event of their victory, President Salome Zurabishvili would be permitted to form a technocratic government dedicated to fostering positive relations with the West and repealing the more authoritarian laws that have been enacted in the lead-up to the elections.
For the first time, Georgia will employ a new electronic ballot-counting system, supplemented with a paper backup, ensuring swift result reporting within one to two hours following the closure of polls at 8 PM local time.
As Georgians prepare to vote, the outcome of this election holds significant implications for the nation's political trajectory and its relationship with both Western nations and Russia.
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