Georgia’s Election as Ruling Party Welcomes Hungary Orban Leader

Georgia’s Election : Ruling party’s victory amid allegations of vote rigging prompts mass demonstrations and tensions with EU, as Hungary’s Orbán visits.

The political turmoil in Georgia continues to escalate after the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the recent parliamentary elections, amid allegations of vote rigging and pressure from Russia.

Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets, demanding a new election under international supervision and a probe into the alleged irregularities.

The visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the first foreign leader to congratulate Georgian Dream on their victory, has further complicated the situation.

Orbán’s trip to Georgia has highlighted the rifts within the European Union, as the EU has stated that he does not have any mandate from the bloc for this visit.

President Salome Zourabichvili, a fierce critic of the Georgian Dream party, has accused the government of “working hand-in-hand with Russia” and potentially receiving help from Moscow’s security services to rig the election.

She hopes the United States and EU will back the ongoing protests, which she believes are a result of Russian pressure against Georgia’s efforts to join the EU.

The ruling party has dismissed the allegations of vote rigging, with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze describing the election results as “impressive and obvious.”

However, European observers have noted instances of intimidation, vote-buying, and physical violence, particularly in rural areas.

During his meeting with Kobakhidze, Orbán declared that the Georgian people “voted for peace” and rejected the opposition’s claims that the Georgian Dream party opposes EU integration as “really ridiculous.”

This stance appears to echo the divisive rhetoric used by the governing party during the election campaign, which accused the opposition of trying to destabilize the country and pointed to the war in Ukraine.

The controversy surrounding Georgia’s election has highlighted the country’s delicate political balancing act, as it navigates its relationship with Russia, its aspirations to join the EU and the growing authoritarian tendencies of the ruling party.

The ongoing protests and the involvement of international figures like Orbán have added further complexity to an already volatile situation.

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