Election in Georgia: Ruling party emerges first, opposition rejects results

The Central Election Commission of Georgia has announced that the ruling Georgian Dream party has received more than 54 percent of the votes in the country, which has been shaken by protests in recent months. According to the commission's website, 99.64 percent of the ballot boxes have been opened.

According to the results, the ruling Georgian Dream party, which the opposition criticizes for being 'pro-Russian', received 54.08 percent of the votes, while the Coalition for Change election bloc received 10.92 percent, the Unity to Save Georgia bloc received 10.12 percent, Strong Georgia received 8.78 percent, and the Gakharia for Georgia party received 7.76 percent.

OPPOSITION REJECTS RESULTS

Leaders of the Unity to Save Georgia election bloc, formed under the leadership of the main opposition party United National Movement—founded by former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently being tried while in detention—and the Coalition for Change election bloc, accused the government of 'stealing the election' and stated that they do not accept the results. Describing the election as a 'choice between Europe and Russia', the opposition characterized the results as a 'constitutional coup'.

'THE PEOPLE CHOSE A BRIGHT FUTURE'

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also evaluated the parliamentary elections in a statement made at the Georgian Dream party's headquarters in Tbilisi. Noting that the Georgian people chose peace and development, Kobakhidze said, "It was a very important election for our country, where the fate of maintaining peace in our country was determined. In the end, the Georgian people chose the only alternative; they chose peace and the development of the country, and a bright future for the country."

'FOREIGN AGENT' PROTESTS IN GEORGIA

The 'foreign agent bill', which the ruling Georgian Dream party had shelved following protests in Georgia, went into effect in recent months. Following this, Brussels suspended Georgia's EU accession process.

The regulation requires non-governmental organizations and media outlets that receive at least 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as "organizations pursuing the interests of a foreign power." While the government says they have taken this step in the name of "transparency," the opposition argues that independent media and civil society organizations will be silenced under accusations of being agents.

The European Union (EU), which granted Georgia "candidate country" status at the end of 2023, also warns that the bill is incompatible with EU values.

News Source: 12punto