Local elections in Georgia: strategy closure

A decisive triumph in the local elections in Georgia on October 4 was the Georgian Dreams (GM) – the ruling for 13 years formation of the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. According to preliminary results, it obtained 81.7% of the votes (in Tbilisi – 70%). The second place was taken by the opposition Strong Georgia – Lelo (6.7%), and the 3rd was by the Gacharia Group for Georgia (3.7%), Giorgi Gacharia, a erstwhile GM Prime Minister, who switched to the opposition. The largest opposition forces boycotted elections, resulting in GM representatives only moving for mayor in any cities. This happened at Poti, where the challenger of this organization received 100% of the vote. Turnout was little than 41%.

The vote was accompanied by tumultuous demonstrations that brought together tens of thousands of opponents of the authorities in the capital (according to erstwhile president Salome Zurabishvili, even though their actual number was most likely at least half the number). erstwhile gathered on Rustabel's central avenue, they proclaimed the beginning of a peaceful revolution and the takeover of the state's rudders by the nation, any of the demonstrators attempted to storm the presidential palace by trespassing behind its fence. They were repulsed by police peculiar forces, which detained, among others, 5 members of the protest organizing committee. The full number of detainees is unknown, further arrests are expected. respective twelve people were injured in the clashes. EU advanced typical for abroad Affairs and safety Policy Kaja Kallas called on both sides to refrain from violence, At the same time, calling on the authorities to respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression and noting that the elections had taken place under conditions of many months of attacks on civilian society and independent media (ODIHR OSCE reflection mission did not take place due to the fact that Tbilisi was besides late to issue an invitation).

The scale of GM's triumph (possibly irregularities on the day of the vote itself most likely did not have a crucial impact on its results) shows complete submission by the ruling formation of the state and its institutions. In the coming weeks, action should be expected to yet destruct the main opposition forces from public life.

Comment

• The election strengthened Georgian Dream's hegemony on the political stage. His successive, ever-higher victories are the consequence of, on the 1 hand, the efficiency of the transmission – the organization has managed to convince a large part of the public that it guarantees peace, while the opponents would drag Georgia into a war – and on the another hand, a unchangeable economical situation (among another things, the arrival of about 100,000 FR citizens fleeing from mobilization has contributed to GDP growth – now there may be around 70 000). The "administrative factor" which is loyal to GM staff in the state structures is besides of large importance. In fact, all public functions in the country are present the denominations of this formation and it can already be said that the full country has been taken over.
• The governing group is simply a strong weakness of divided pro-Western opposition, devoid of strategy and incapable to manage the possible of discontent. Nor did she make a message to voters in the state and a conservative part of society. Protests, which have been held since the parliamentary elections a year ago, have intensified erstwhile Prime Minister Kobachidze declared on 28 November 2024 that Georgia postpones the EU accession process until 2028 (see IP/10/28). Georgia suspends EU integration). At the same time, they have a bottom-up, apartamental and network-based character and have not so far chosen a clear leader or leaders (lately specified a function is being played by opera vocalist Paata Burczuladze). The boycott of the vote by the main opposition parties was most likely due to the desire to avoid a spectacular defeat, although the declared reason was the refusal of the company to "Russian peculiar operation", as defined by these pro-Western opposition elections and was the president.
• The force on civilian society by the authorities is expected to increase further, and it is besides realistic to delegate any opposition formations. GM has been declaring for a long time that the authorities are aiming to destruct opponents, especially the United National Movement (NRN). This is to be served by a parliamentary committee that examines his governments (2003-2012), but hers The mandate besides covers the later activities of ZRN politicians, including his then leader, who was in prison by erstwhile president Mikhail Saakashvili. To show that illegal actions have been taken may give emergence to the illegalisation of this organization and another parties. The anticipation of specified a script is evidenced by the arrests in fresh days of ZRN politicians, including Levan Chabeiszwili, on charges of corruption (some opposition activists have already held respective months' sentences for failing to appear before the said committee). Under current conditions, there is no warming of Tbilisi' relation with the West, especially with the EU.