The European Parliament delivered a resounding blow to Georgia’s aspirations for European Union membership on Thursday, November 28th, passing a resolution demanding new parliamentary elections. The vote, a decisive 444 to 72 margin during a Strasbourg session, declared the recent Georgian elections invalid due to widespread irregularities, effectively freezing Georgia’s EU integration process.
The resolution, a culmination of mounting international concern regarding the electoral process, specifically cites allegations of voter intimidation, vote buying, and ballot stuffing. European Parliament lawmakers asserted the election was neither free nor fair, a damning assessment undermining the legitimacy of the Georgian Dream party’s victory. International observers had previously raised similar concerns, adding weight to the Parliament’s decision.
Beyond demanding a re-run of the elections within a year under international supervision, the resolution takes a strong stance against the ruling Georgian Dream party. The Parliament’s motion calls for the European Commission and other EU institutions to suspend engagement with the Georgian government, citing the party’s passage of controversial legislation targeting NGOs and the LGBTQ+ community. Critics have drawn parallels between these laws and repressive tactics employed by the Russian government to suppress dissent.
Furthermore, the resolution explicitly supports the imposition of sanctions against senior Georgian politicians accused of undermining democratic standards. This significant action underscores the EU’s gravity of the situation and its commitment to upholding democratic principles within its prospective member states.
The resolution’s passage wasn’t a spontaneous action. It followed extensive joint negotiations among MEPs from major political groups, including the European People’s Party, Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe, European Conservatives and Reformists, and the Greens, demonstrating a united front against the perceived electoral irregularities. Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, the Parliament’s rapporteur on Georgia, aptly summarized the stakes: “Georgia’s prospects for European integration are now on the line. The electoral process must be investigated to restore faith in Georgia’s democratic institutions.”
The already strained relationship between Georgia and the EU further deteriorated earlier this year when the Georgian Dream party advanced legislation labeling foreign-supported media and civil society groups as “foreign agents,” mirroring Kremlin policies. This controversial move, along with the disputed election results, prompted the suspension of Georgia’s EU membership application. While Georgian Dream has vehemently denied allegations of election rigging and Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili dismissed the Parliament’s resolution as based on “inaccurate information,” the government’s stated goal of EU membership by 2030 faces significant obstacles amidst the escalating tensions with Brussels. The EU’s strong response indicates a serious challenge to Georgia’s path towards EU integration, demanding substantial reforms to restore faith in its democratic processes.
