European Parliament condemns PM Orbán’s visit to Georgia

The European Parliament recently adopted a resolution strongly criticising the fairness and democratic nature of the parliamentary elections in Georgia.

The vote, which took place on the 26th of October, was considered neither free nor fair, as serious abuses and irregularities were observed. The EP says these problems represent a serious setback in the country’s democratic development and are clearly the responsibility of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

A number of irregularities were observed during the elections, including voter intimidation, ballot stuffing and media interference. Manipulation of electronic voting systems was also reported, which particularly undermines the credibility of the electoral process. The EP considers that the results announced by the Central Election Commission of Georgia do not reflect the true will of the Georgian people.

Photo: FB/Viktor Orbán

New elections and international supervision

According to 444, some Members of the European Parliament called for fresh elections to be held within a year, under international supervision and with an independent electoral administration. Under the current circumstances, the EU and other international actors should not recognise the election results as they undermine the basic principles of democracy, stated the European Parliament.

As part of the resolution, the EP proposes that EU Member States introduce targeted sanctions against Georgian political leaders and officials. These sanctions would target those responsible for violating democratic standards, abusing state power and subordinating institutions to party interests.

The European Parliament is proposing a tougher approach to relations between the EU and the Georgian government. Recent anti-democratic laws, such as the ‘Foreign Influence Law’, have led Georgia to virtually halt its EU integration efforts. The Parliament stresses that the actions and policies of the Georgian authorities are incompatible with Euro-Atlantic integration.

According to the European Parliament, Russia is playing an important role in Georgia’s democratic process. It is trying to discourage Georgian society with disinformation campaigns, such as the narrative that the opposition, under Western control, would lead the country to war. The EP warns Georgia that attempts to ban political parties would further damage the country’s relations with the EU.

Viktor Orbán and Georgia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Georgia has drawn sharp criticism from the European Parliament. Orbán congratulated the Georgian Dream party before accepting the official results of the elections and praised the close cooperation with the ruling party. According to the EP, the visit violated the EU’s common foreign policy position and undermined common European action.

Source: Facebook / Viktor Orbán

In Georgia, many protested against electoral fraud, while Viktor Orbán’s visit was not unanimously welcomed. However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó sharply criticised EU foreign ministers and defended the Georgian elections.

The European Parliament’s resolution is not only about the situation in Georgia but also about the commitment of the EU and its member states to democratic values. The events in Georgia are a warning that the integration process can only be successful if the countries concerned respect the principles of democracy and the rule of law. Georgia’s fate is of vital importance not only to its own citizens but also to the European community.

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