Georgia's recent elections have drawn significant attention as they present a crucial choice between deepening ties with Western institutions or reinforcing connections with Russia.
Preliminary results indicate that the ruling pro-Russian Georgian Dream Party secured around 53% of the vote.
In an interview on World Talks, George Mchedlishvili, an associate professor at the European University in Tbilisi, discussed the election's implications.
He said: "The victory of the Georgian Dream is overwhelming, but we must consider that exit polls also show they garnered only about 42%. This indicates they employed significant administrative resources to achieve their results."
Mchedlishvili said on the other hand that opposition parties were unable to “mobilize and coordinate” which led to “their modest performance.”
He emphasized that many voters desired stability and that “majority of people were saying, ‘We voted for peace and calm economic development,’ which suggests support for the ruling party."
Mchedlishvili went on to say that although “many Georgians support Ukraine against Russian aggression, they fear the price of conflict.”
Addressing the future, he expressed cautious optimism about Georgia’s European aspirations.
"EU membership is the dream of 80% of Georgians. Our cultural code is European, and geography should follow that."
As international observers await a comprehensive assessment of the elections, Mchedlishvili concluded, "There is still hope for Georgia, but the path to reform and stability will require cooperation and understanding among all political factions."
Watch the full interview above.
In an interview on World Talks, George Mchedlishvili, an associate professor at the European University in Tbilisi, discussed the election's implications.
He said: "The victory of the Georgian Dream is overwhelming, but we must consider that exit polls also show they garnered only about 42%. This indicates they employed significant administrative resources to achieve their results."
Mchedlishvili said on the other hand that opposition parties were unable to “mobilize and coordinate” which led to “their modest performance.”
He emphasized that many voters desired stability and that “majority of people were saying, ‘We voted for peace and calm economic development,’ which suggests support for the ruling party."
Mchedlishvili went on to say that although “many Georgians support Ukraine against Russian aggression, they fear the price of conflict.”
Addressing the future, he expressed cautious optimism about Georgia’s European aspirations.
"EU membership is the dream of 80% of Georgians. Our cultural code is European, and geography should follow that."
As international observers await a comprehensive assessment of the elections, Mchedlishvili concluded, "There is still hope for Georgia, but the path to reform and stability will require cooperation and understanding among all political factions."
Watch the full interview above.
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