The European Parliament has called for a re-run of Georgia’s recent parliamentary election, citing irregularities and widespread concerns about the fairness of the vote.
In a 444-72 vote on Thursday, MEPs declared the election results invalid, stating they failed to reflect the will of the Georgian people. The motion demands a fresh election within a year, monitored by international observers.
The Parliament’s resolution follows accusations of voter pressure, vote-buying, and ballot stuffing, with international observers questioning the integrity of the process. MEPs also urged the EU to cut ties with the Georgian government, led by the Georgian Dream party, which has been criticized for enacting legislation similar to Russia’s, targeting NGOs and the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, they supported sanctions against officials linked to democratic decline.
Rasa Juknevičienė, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Georgia, emphasized that the country’s European integration prospects are at risk and that an investigation into the election is needed to restore trust in Georgia’s democracy. Georgia’s EU membership bid was frozen after the government passed a law labeling Western-backed civil society groups as “foreign agents,” a move critics liken to Russia’s suppression of dissent.
While the Georgian Dream party denies any election fraud, Georgia’s new foreign minister, Maka Bochorishvili, dismissed the European Parliament’s calls, claiming they were based on “inaccurate information” and reiterating the country’s aim to join the EU by 2030 despite strained relations.
