Held on October 26, the election has raised significant concerns about its fairness, and Georgia’s pro-European opposition sees it as a missed chance to reorient the country towards EU membership. With ruling party Georgian Dream likely to claim victory, analysts suggest Moscow is closer than ever to gaining a compliant ally in the region.
The Economist outlines that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgian Dream has distanced the country from its previously strong Western ties, maintaining neutrality on the war and suppressing political dissent. Although Georgia applied for EU candidacy and was granted the status last December, the government’s anti-Western rhetoric has hindered accession talks.
The magazine suggests that Georgian Dream’s election campaign tapped into anti-Western sentiments by promoting conspiracy theories about a "Global War Party" allegedly pushing the opposition into power to provoke conflict with Russia. Images of prosperous Georgia were juxtaposed with war-torn Ukraine, influencing some voters. Additionally, reports of irregularities during the election process remain difficult to quantify but may have impacted the results.
Reflecting on the election outcome, The Economist notes a subdued response from the opposition, with Tbilisi’s streets unusually quiet after initial results were released. This recalls the aftermath of Georgia’s 2020 election, where opposition claims of fraud failed to rally Western support. While protests could still erupt, The Economist warns that Georgia may now be quietly drifting away from the West.
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Source: PAP