The Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidzé, declared on Thursday, November 28, that his Government was postponing its ambition to join the European Union until 2028, accusing Brussels of “blackmail” in a context of political crisis after the legislative elections at the end of October.
This announcement comes a few hours after the adoption by the European Parliament of a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of the legislative elections in Georgia that gave victory to the ruling Georgian Dream party, denouncing “significant irregularities”. This resolution demands that new elections be organized within a year under international supervision and that sanctions be adopted against senior Georgian officials, including Mr. Kobakhidze.
In response, the Prime Minister accused the European Parliament and “certain European politicians” of “blackmail”. “We have decided not to include the question of membership in the European Union on the agenda before the end of 2028”advertisement. However, he pledged to continue implementing the necessary reforms, ensuring that “By 2028, Georgia will be better prepared than any other candidate country to start accession negotiations with Brussels and become a Member State in 2030”.
Former Soviet republic Georgia officially gained membership candidate status in December 2023, but Brussels has since frozen the process, accusing the Georgian Dream government of taking a serious democratic backslide. The new Georgian Parliament, for its part, confirmed Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in office on Thursday, in office since February, in a vote boycotted by the pro-Western opposition.
Opposition deputies, who accuse the Georgian Dream of a pro-Russian authoritarian drift, have refused since Monday to participate in the new Parliament elected during the legislative elections on October 26. Following Mr. Kobakhidze’s statements, President Salomé Zourabichvili, breaking with the Government that has limited powers in Georgia, organized a “emergency meeting” with foreign diplomats. “Today the illegitimate government has declared war on its own people”he said during a press conference alongside opposition leaders. “I am the only legitimate institution, the only legitimate representative of this country”he assured. Protesters also gathered in front of Parliament and the Georgian Dream headquarters in Tbilisi, as well as in other major cities in the country.
