In conflict with the government, the Georgian president, Salomé Zourabichvili, called on Monday, November 11, for the holding of new legislative elections after the victory, in October, of the Georgian Dream, the ruling party, denounced as fraudulent by the opposition.
The pro-Western opposition in this Caucasian country refused to recognize the result of the legislative elections that ended with the victory of the Georgian Dream, which was pro-Russian and accused of authoritarian drift by its detractors.
The Georgian president, who has limited powers and influence in the country, denounced during a press conference a “Elections controlled and manipulated by a single party”in reference to Georgian Dream. “Today we face a crisis”assured, stating that it was necessary to organize “new elections so that Georgia can have a legitimate Parliament, a legitimate government”.
“Serious suspicions of fraud”
METROme Zourabishvili, who accuses Russia of electoral interference, revealed that a group of deputies from eight European countries, including France and Germany, are in Georgia to help with the “find ways out of this crisis”. The president of Parliament, Chalva Papouashvili, refused to receive this delegation.
The European Union, which Georgia intends to join, has been putting pressure on the government of this country since the legislative elections on October 26. On Friday, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, assured that“There are serious suspicions of fraud, which require a serious investigation”.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tbilisi to protest against alleged electoral fraud. The ruling party, for its part, insists that the vote was free and fair and that membership of the European Union remains “top priority” of his government.
