Demonstrations in Georgia: Georgia’s President calls for new parliamentary elections

Georgia’s pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili has called for new parliamentary elections in view of the mass protests in the country. After the allegations of election fraud and the government’s turning away from the EU course, the way to a new vote must be found. “We only have one demand based on the constitution after the elections were rigged,” she said at a meeting with opposition representatives. “The only way to stability is through new elections; there is no other way.”

At the same time, she accused the Constitutional Court of the Caucasus Republic of not even having set a date for examining the accusation she had submitted of election fraud.

Thousands again protest in the center of Tbilisi

In the capital Tbilisi and a number of other Georgian cities, thousands of people gathered again in the evening to continue their protests against the government. In Tbilisi, the police once again gathered strong forces for possible action against the demonstrators. According to a report by the Interpressnews agency, the police have already sporadically used water cannons to push the demonstrators back from the parliament building.

In Tbilisi there were violent clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators for the third night in a row. According to Georgian media reports, the officers used water cannons and tear gas, and the demonstrators fired fireworks at the police.

The background to the protests is the parliamentary election at the end of October, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud. The electoral commission declared the ruling Georgian Dream party the winner with around 54 percent of the vote. The opposition does not recognize the results and refuses to accept their mandates.

Zurabishvili said on Saturday evening that she would remain in office for the time being because an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a legitimate president. Her term actually ends in mid-December. For the first time, her successor will not be elected directly by the people, but rather appointed by members of parliament and regional representatives.

The protests were fueled by Prime Minister Iraqi Kobachidze, who announced on Thursday that he would put accession negotiations with the EU on hold until 2028, accusing them of interference and blackmail. According to surveys, the majority of the population wants to go to the EU. Accession is also set out as a goal in the constitution.

Von der Leyen: Door to the EU remains open

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is keeping Georgia’s door to the European Union open despite the government there’s turning away from its course towards Europe. In a message on Platform X on Sunday, she regretted the government’s decision against the EU and its values. But the EU stands by the Georgians and their decision for a European future, she wrote, referring to the days of mass protests.

“The door to the EU remains open,” emphasized von der Leyen. “Georgia’s return to the EU path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership.”