Georgian Opposition Rejects Election Results Amid Claims Of Fraud
They described it as a "fateful election," saying that the country is at a crossroads
In Georgia, the opposition is refusing to accept election results that show the ruling party, Georgian Dream, leading. Claims of fraud are stirring tensions.
In Georgia, the opposition is unhappy about the results of the recent parliamentary election. The election showed the ruling party, Georgian Dream, leading with 53 percent of the vote counted. This means they have secured an absolute majority.
Georgian Dream is known for its national-conservative views and favors working with Russia. This is causing concern among many Georgians who want to move closer to Europe.
The Unity electoral alliance, which includes the opposition group United National Movement, received around 10 percent of the votes. Another group, the Coalition for Change, got about 11 percent.
Together, four pro-European opposition blocs received around 38 percent of the votes, which surpassed the five percent threshold needed to enter parliament.
In the capital city of Tbilisi, Tinatin Bokuchkva, the leader of the United National Movement, made strong accusations against the election commission.
She claimed they were doing the “dirty work” of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili is the founder of Georgian Dream and has a history of strong ties to Russia. He celebrated his party's victory as soon as the polling stations closed.
The Coalition for Change, a pro-Western opposition group, also announced that it would not accept the results. Nika Gvaramia, a politician from this group, spoke at a press conference and claimed, “The elections have been stolen from the opposition. This is a constitutional coup and an abuse of power.” He said the elections were rigged with a complicated scheme, but he did not provide any specific details on how this was done.
Georgia's President Salome Zourabichvili, who supports the opposition, tweeted that pro-European parties had received 52 percent of the vote. She expressed her pride and confidence in Georgia’s European future.
According to preliminary figures, voter turnout was about 59 percent. This means that nearly six out of ten eligible voters participated in the election. Around 3.5 million citizens were invited to vote, both inside the country and abroad.
A strong victory for Georgian Dream could hurt Georgia’s chances of joining the European Union (EU). In recent years, the party has made several controversial laws that have caused worry among those who support a closer relationship with Europe. Because of these laws, the process of joining the EU has slowed down.
In the weeks leading up to the election, pro-Western leaders warned that this election was very important for Georgia.
They described it as a "fateful election," saying that the country is at a crossroads. Russia and the West both have a big influence in Georgia, and many people are concerned about which direction the country will take.
If Georgian Dream continues to succeed, it may mean that Georgia will turn away from the EU and start to work more closely with Russia. This is alarming for many Georgians. Ivanishvili, who founded the ruling party, made his fortune through business dealings in Russia.
To ensure the election was fair, around 500 observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) were on the ground in Georgia. They are expected to announce their conclusions about the election on Sunday. Many Georgians are eagerly waiting to hear what they have to say.
As the situation develops, tensions are high. The opposition's refusal to accept the election results shows just how divided the country is.
