Georgia is in the midst of a major political crisis. The country's pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili, announced on Saturday that she would remain in office until new parliamentary elections are held, despite her term scheduled to end this year.
In an exclusive interview with AFP, Zourabichvili said: "As long as there are no new elections and a parliament that elects a new president according to new rules, my mandate will continue." She strongly opposes the government led by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which plans to elect a new president on December 14.
A tense political climate
Political protests have intensified after the October 26 parliamentary elections, which pro-European opposition parties accuse of being marred by massive irregularities. Although Georgian Dream declared victory, the results were not recognized by the opposition or the international community, according to Ms. Zurabishvili: "No one outside Georgia, among our democratic partners, has recognized the elections."
The new parliament, controlled by Georgian Dream, intends to elect the next president through an electoral college, in line with constitutional reforms adopted in 2017. This mechanism, criticized for its lack of transparency, virtually ensures the election of Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer turned far-right politician.
Popular mobilization and resistance
Faced with this situation, Salomé Zourabichvili, a former French diplomat born in Paris, took the initiative of creating a "national council" bringing together opposition parties and members of civil society. This body, according to her, represents the country's true democratic legitimacy: "No dealings with illegitimate representatives of this country. Do business with us, we represent the Georgian people."
Protests are growing in Georgia. For more than a month, tens of thousands of citizens have taken to the streets to denounce electoral fraud and support the president in her fight for new elections. Tensions have been exacerbated by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's announcement that he has postponed the goal of opening accession negotiations with the European Union until 2028. This decision has triggered a new wave of protests, marked by violent clashes between pro-European demonstrators and law enforcement.
The European question at the heart of the conflict
Georgia's European aspirations are colliding with accusations against the Georgian Dream, which is accused of wanting to bring the country closer to Russia to the detriment of European integration. Brussels has demanded an investigation into electoral irregularities and plans to send a mission to Tbilisi soon. For Salome Zourabichvili, this mission will be decisive: "It must help us to set up new elections. We are very confident in the support of our European and American partners."
As the president's term approaches its official end, the battle for Georgia's democratic future appears far from over. In her words, “A society that takes its future into its own hands is an irresistible force.”
