Politics Georgia's opposition does not recognize election results

SDA

27.10.2024 - 01:24

ARCHIVE - People come to a demonstration in the Georgian capital Tbilisi with Georgian and EU flags. Photo: Katharina Schröder/dpa
ARCHIVE - People come to a demonstration in the Georgian capital Tbilisi with Georgian and EU flags. Photo: Katharina Schröder/dpa
Keystone

Following the parliamentary elections in the South Caucasus republic of Georgia, the pro-Western opposition does not recognize the preliminary results, according to which the national-conservative ruling party is ahead. The election administration had carried out the dirty orders of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, said the leader of the pro-European opposition party United National Movement, Tinatin Bokuchava, in the capital Tbilisi. Ivanishvili is the founder and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Bokuchava went on to say that an action plan of the opponents of the government would be agreed in the next few hours.

The electoral commission had awarded the ruling party an absolute majority after counting most of the votes. The 68-year-old Ivanishvili celebrated his victory shortly after the polling stations closed.

The pro-Western opposition coalition Coalition for Change also declared that it would not recognize the results. "The elections were stolen from the opposition. This is a constitutional coup d'état and an abuse of power," said politician Nika Gwaramia at a press conference. The elections had been falsified according to a complicated technological scheme. He did not give any details.

The opposition in the country on the Black Sea is divided. Some parties had formed electoral alliances. A total of around 3.5 million people in the country were called to vote. According to preliminary figures, voter turnout was around 59%. In 2020, the voter turnout was 56 percent. Georgia is a candidate for EU accession, but the process is on hold due to controversial laws.

SDA