Georgia begins 'tense' general election

On October 26, Georgian voters began going to the polls in a general election that is considered decisive for the country's future of European integration.

Georgia begins 'tense' general election - a confrontation between a pro-Western coalition and a group closer to Russia. (Source: Getty Images)

This parliamentary election witnessed a confrontation between the pro-Western opposition coalition - an unprecedented coalition in history - and the ruling Georgian Dream party that tends to move closer to Russia.

Georgian Dream, which came to power in 2012, initially pursued a pro-Western agenda. But in the past two years it has reversed course, prompting Brussels to freeze Georgia’s EU accession process and Washington to impose sanctions on dozens of Georgian officials.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze believes that his country's relations with the West will normalize after the Russia-Ukraine conflict ends.

Meanwhile, Brussels warned that the October 26 vote would be crucial for the fate of Georgia's fledgling democracy as well as its long-held aspirations to become a member of the EU.

Opinion polls suggest opposition parties could win enough votes to form a coalition government to replace the ruling Georgian Dream party, controlled by powerful billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. The group includes Georgia's main opposition, the United National Movement (UNM) of jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, and Akhali, a newly formed party led by former UNM leaders.

Meanwhile, the current government says it wants to win an absolute majority in parliament so it can pass a constitutional ban on the pro-Western opposition.

Regarding Russia, on October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree expanding the conditions for visa exemption for all Georgian citizens. While the previous version of the decree retained visa requirements for Georgians entering the Russian Federation for work or temporary stays of more than 90 days, including for educational purposes, the new decree allows visa-free entry for all Georgian citizens without exception.

“Georgia’s divided opposition forces have created an unprecedented united front against the Georgian Dream party,” said analyst Gela Vasadze at the Georgian Center for Strategic Analysis. “If the ruling party tries to maintain power despite the election results, there is a risk of chaos.”

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/georgia-bat-dau-cuoc-tong-tuyen-cu-cang-thang-cuoc-doi-dau-giua-lien-minh-than-phuong-tay-va-nhom-xich-lai-gan-nga-291456.html