The pro-Russian Georgian Dream party wins the elections with an absolute majority

The ruling party Georgian Dream achieved this Saturday the absolute majority in the parliamentary elections in Georgia by reaching 53% of the votes in its favor, according to the first results, reported the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). Georgian Dream is criticized by the opposition and the West for its approach to the Kremlin, expressed in the refusal to join sanctions against Russia due to the war in Ukraine, the establishment of flights between both countries and the approval of several repressive laws similar to existing regulations in Russia.

“It is a victory for all the people of Georgia”cried the Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Kobajidze, before the supporters of Georgian Dream gathered in front of the headquarters of the political formation to celebrate the first results announced by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of the Caucasian nation.

In votes, it is followed by the opposition blocs Coalition for Changes, with 11.2%, Unidad, with 9.8%, Strong Georgia, with 9.04%, and Gajaria for Georgia, with 8.2%, so The four opposition blocs enter Parliament by exceeding the 5% threshold. This result will allow the ruling party to create a government alonesomething that sought to prevent opposition.

The four opposition coalitions – Unity, Coalition for Changes, Strong Georgia and Gajaria for Georgia – had agreed to form a technical government in case Georgian Dream did not achieve a parliamentary majority. a possibility that disappears given the trend of the scrutiny results.

The elections, which were attended by more than 1,700 foreign observers from 76 international organizations and more than 23,000 local observers from 111 national organizations, took place in relative calm, although several events took place. altercations, fights and other violations.

The main novelties of these elections are that for the first time the seats will be distributed solely based on the proportional system and that around 90% of the voters will have the possibility of exercising electronic voting.

Relaunch relations with the West

Now, Georgian Dream’s first priority lies in restoring relations with the West, damaged after the approval of the Foreign Influence Transparency Lawwhich the Georgian opposition considers similar to the one approved in Russia to repress civil society. After its approval, the EU, US and UK They froze cooperation programs with Georgia.

Furthermore, Brussels and Washington criticized the Georgian Parliament for approving another document that prohibits, as in Russia, propaganda of relationships homosexuals.

After casting his vote this morning, Kobajidze stated that Georgia had received “good signals from the strategic partners of a soon relaunch of relations” with the West and was optimistic about it.

In turn, the general secretary of the party and mayor of Tbilisi, Kaja Kaladze, assured that his political party “is ready to begin the relaunch of relations with the West.” “Relations will undoubtedly improve. We are ready, but Georgia’s interests must always be taken into account,” he added.

Days before, Ivanishvili had already predicted that these Relations will be restored after the end of the war in Ukrainestatements in line with the electoral campaign of Georgian Dream, which promoted itself as the party that would avoid a war confrontation with Russia, allegedly instigated by “certain forces” in the West.