Janice R. Andrews
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has declared a decisive victory in recent elections, securing 54% of votes according to initial results. However, the legitimacy of this victory faces significant challenges from multiple fronts.
Opposition forces, along with President Salome Zourabichvili, have denounced the election as fraudulent. While Kobakhidze maintains that any irregularities were minimal and confined to “just a couple of precincts” among 3,111 polling stations, election monitors tell a different story. Isfed, a local monitoring group, has documented numerous violations including voter bribery, intimidation, and ballot manipulation.
The controversy extends beyond domestic politics, drawing international attention. The European Union, through European Council President Charles Michel, has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities. This comes at a crucial time for Georgia, as its EU membership bid remains frozen due to concerns over democratic deterioration.
Notably, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stands alone among EU leaders in congratulating Kobakhidze’s government. His planned visit to Tbilisi is expected to further strain Georgia’s relations with Brussels.
The ruling party’s policies have raised eyebrows for their similarity to Russian regulatory frameworks, particularly regarding media, NGOs, and LGBTQ+ rights. While Kobakhidze firmly denies any pro-Russian orientation, pointing to Georgia’s continued diplomatic freeze with Moscow following the 2008 invasion, Russian media’s positive reception of the election results has fueled concerns about Georgia’s political direction.
Opposition parties, including the Coalition for Change and United National Movement, have announced their intention to boycott parliament and are planning public protests. President Zourabichvili has thrown her support behind these efforts, calling for national unity against what she terms a “total falsification” of the election.
Despite implementing new electronic vote-counting systems, which Kobakhidze claims made rigging “impossible,” trust in the election’s integrity remains low. International observers, including former EU ambassador Per Eklund, have criticized the electoral process, citing widespread voter intimidation.
Looking ahead, Georgian Dream’s parliamentary majority, while significant, falls short of the supermajority needed for constitutional changes. The opposition’s refusal to participate in parliament, combined with mounting protests and international scrutiny, presents significant challenges for the incoming administration’s ability to govern effectively and advance Georgia’s EU aspirations.
