After decades of democratic progress, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) now believe Georgia is experiencing state capture and are calling for new parliamentary elections in the country.
In a report adopted on Wednesday by 490 votes in favor, 147 against with 49 abstentions, Parliament stated that the October 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia were rigged. This event marked a shift towards an authoritarian government in the EU candidate country. According to MEPs, this flawed election allowed the ruling Georgian Dream party to capture state institutions illicitly, remove democratic safeguards, push repressive legislation, and crack down on political opponents, journalists, and peaceful protesters.
With concerns about Georgia’s EU accession path at stake, MEPs are renewing their calls for new parliamentary elections under international and independent domestic monitoring. Until such elections occur, Parliament will not recognize Georgia’s current one-party parliament and president. They also urge the EU and member states to impose sanctions against key Georgian Dream officials responsible for democratic backsliding. Additionally, MEPs call for an audit of the EU’s policy towards Georgia and request that the European Commission review the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
MEPs emphasize that Georgia must return to democratic reforms
While urging Georgian Dream to return to a democratic path and Euro-Atlantic integration, MEPs express solidarity with Georgians’ pro-European aspirations. They stress that upcoming municipal elections will not reflect Georgians’ democratic choice unless imprisoned opposition leaders are released and elections occur in an improved environment. Concerns over restrictive media conditions and attacks on political opposition persist as well.
“Sadly, we could not assess any progress by Georgia because from having once been an inspiring leader among Eastern Partnership countries; Georgia has become a brutal dictatorship,” said rapporteur Rasa Juknevičienė (EPP, Lithuania). “Since the adoption of this report in committee, almost all leaders of the opposition have been detained… Independent media are on verge of collapse… But Georgian people are not giving up… The EU must take action before it is too late.”
