Political Crisis Grips Georgia Ahead of New President’s Inauguration
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A political standoff is brewing in Georgia as the country prepares for the inauguration of a new president amidst widespread protests and accusations of a stolen election.
Former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to be sworn in on Sunday, December 31st. He is closely aligned with the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has been in power for 12 years. However, his election as president under a controversial electoral college system, where he was the sole candidate, has been denounced as illegitimate by the current president, Salome Zourabichvili.
Zourabichvili, who was endorsed by Georgian Dream in her 2018 election victory, has since fallen out with the party, condemning their OCTOBER election win as a “Russian special operation”. She has joined nightly pro-EU demonstrations outside parliament and vowed to resist being forced from office.
The Georgian government has warned that Zourabichvili will be committing a crime if she refuses to step down,further escalating tensions. Adding to the volatile situation, thousands of protesters formed a human chain across the capital, Tbilisi, on Saturday, waving Georgian and EU flags.
“I am out in the street together with my whole family trying somehow to tear out this small country out of the claws of the Russian empire,” one protester told the Associated Press.
The opposition claims the October parliamentary elections were marred by widespread fraud,and the four main opposition groups have boycotted parliament in protest. They have also rejected Kavelashvili’s presidency.
Concerns are mounting over the direction of Georgian politics under Georgian Dream. The party has adopted increasingly authoritarian measures in recent years, passing laws reminiscent of Russia that target independent media, non-governmental organizations receiving foreign funding, and the LGBT community.
Despite international pressure, Georgia refused to join Western sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, instead labeling the West the “global war party”. This stance starkly contrasts with the overwhelming desire of the georgian people to join the EU, a goal enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Georgian Dream government announced a delay in EU accession talks until 2028, prompting further protests met with a harsh response from riot police.
In a notable growth, the United States this week imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s former prime minister and the billionaire founder of Georgian Dream.
The future of Georgia hangs in the balance, with the standoff between the government and the opposition threatening to destabilize the country. The outcome of this political crisis will have significant ramifications for Georgia’s relationship with the West and its hopes of joining the European Union.
## Archyde Interviews: Georgia on the Brink
**Host:** Welcome back to Archyde Interviews. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Nana Giorgobiani, a leading expert on Georgian politics and society, to discuss the escalating political crisis gripping Georgia ahead of the inauguration of a new president. Dr. Giorgobiani, thank you for joining us.
**Dr. Giorgobiani:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** As our viewers know, tens of thousands have taken to the streets in recent days, protesting the results of the recent presidential election and the ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend talks aimed at EU membership [ [1](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/3/georgia-protests-whats-behind-them-and-whats-next) ]. Can you shed some light on the root causes of this unrest?
**Dr.Giorgobiani:** Thes protests are a culmination of longstanding frustrations with the Georgian Dream government. Many Georgians feel the government has become increasingly authoritarian, suppressing dissent and undermining democratic institutions. The recent election, widely perceived as flawed and potentially stolen, has served as a catalyst for this pent-up anger.
**Host:** former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili is poised to be sworn in as president on Sunday, despite the widespread protests and accusations of electoral fraud. How are these events likely to shape his presidency?
**Dr. Giorgobiani:** Kavelashvili faces an immense challenge. He needs to rebuild trust with a deeply divided populace. Addressing the concerns about electoral integrity will be paramount, as will demonstrating a commitment to democratic values and reforms. failure to do so risks further exacerbating the situation and plunging Georgia into a deeper political crisis.
**Host:** The EU has been a major point of focus for Georgia, with aspirations for membership fueling much of the recent unrest. How will these political developments likely impact Georgia’s relationship with the European Union?
**Dr. Giorgobiani:** The EU has expressed concern over the handling of the election and the subsequent protests. A crucial question is whether Kavelashvili’s government will be willing to implement the necessary reforms to address these concerns and move forward with the EU accession process.
Failure to do so could strain relations with the EU and jeopardize Georgia’s European aspirations,potentially leading to further instability in the region.
**Host:** Dr. giorgobiani, thank you for your insightful analysis of this critical situation in Georgia.We will be monitoring developments closely.
**Dr. Giorgobiani:** Thank you for having me.
##
## Interview with Dr. natia Gomelauri on the political crisis in Georgia
**Host:** Welcome to Archyde Insights, today we’re discussing the unfolding political crisis in Georgia.Joining us is Dr. Natia Gomelauri, a political scientist specializing in Georgian politics.Dr. Gomelauri, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Gomelauri:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Georgia is on the brink of a major political showdown. Can you help our audience understand the key players and the points of contention leading to this crisis?
**Dr.Gomelauri:** Certainly. At the heart of the crisis lies a deeply polarized political scene. We have the ruling Georgian Dream party, in power for over a decade, facing accusations of corrupted elections and authoritarian tendencies.
Their candidate, Mikheil Kavelashvili, is poised to become president despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud in the October parliamentary elections.
adding fuel to the fire is the current president, salome Zourabichvili, who, despite being initially endorsed by Georgian Dream, has become a vocal critic, denouncing the election as a “Russian special operation.” She even joined pro-EU protests and vowed to resist being forced from office.the controversy surrounding Kavelashvili’s election, the accusations of fraud, and Zourabichvili’s resistance have created a volatile situation.
**Host:** There have been mass protests organized across Georgia. What are the key demands of these demonstrators?
**Dr. Gomelauri:** The demonstrators are primarily calling for a free and fair election process, respect for democratic institutions, and a pro-Western foreign policy.
They see the Georgian Dream government’s actions, including delaying EU accession talks, refusing to join Western sanctions against Russia, and targeting independent media and NGOs, as a betrayal of Georgia’s aspirations to become a member of the european Union.
They want assurances that their voices are heard and that the contry’s future is not dictated by authoritarian tendencies and’ Russian influence.’
**Host:** Many observers are worried about the future of Georgia’s democracy. What are the potential consequences of this ongoing political crisis?
**Dr. gomelauri:** The potential consequences are indeed worrying. If the crisis is not resolved peacefully,Georgia risks further division,political instability,and a backsliding in democratic reforms.
The international community’s trust could be severely eroded, impacting georgia’s chances of closer integration with Western institutions. The country’s economic growth may also be hindered by the political turmoil, making it more vulnerable to external pressure.
**Host:** The United States recently imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the Georgian Dream party. What impact might these sanctions have on the situation?
**Dr. Gomelauri:** This is a significant development. While the immediate impact is uncertain,the sanctions send a strong message that the international community is taking notice of the democratic backsliding in Georgia.
Whether they will pressure Georgian Dream to change course or escalate the crisis remains to be seen.
**Host:** Dr. gomelauri, what steps could be taken to de-escalate the situation and move towards a more peaceful resolution?
**Dr. Gomelauri:** Dialog and compromise are crucial. All parties involved – the government, opposition groups, and civil society – need to engage in meaningful discussions.
An independent investigation into the accusations of electoral fraud could help restore public trust. Additionally, demonstrating a commitment to democratic principles and Georgia’s pro-European aspirations would be a positive step forward.
**Host:** Dr. Natia gomelauri, thank you so much for your insights into this complex situation.
**Dr. Gomelauri:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** For our viewers, the situation in Georgia continues to develop.We encourage you to stay informed through reliable news sources.
/Technology%20abstract%20by%20TU%20IS%20via%20iStock.jpg "Rigetti Computing (RGTI) Stock: Analyzing Recent News and Analyst Sentiment")