Georgian Dream will not be able to falsify October 2024 elections – President Salome Zurabishvili said in answer to GEORGIA TODAY’s question regarding the international observation missions expected to attend the October 26 elections in Georgia.
The President held a press conference on August 5 at Orbeliani Presidential Palace to answer the questions of the Georgian media. Representatives of almost all the local media outlets attended.
When asked “Madam President, the 2024 elections will be observed by many representatives of the international mission in Georgia. How effective do you think their work will be and what obstacles will they face in this process, when evaluating the elections objectively?” Salome Zurabishvili answered:
“I think, as always… Observation in the recent period, as time goes by, is less and less effective, because the methods of forgery have become more ‘refined,’ not only in Georgia, but around the world. There are often cases of bribery, through the announcement of various programs, etc. But let’s not believe in the ‘omnipotence’ announced by the authorities, suggesting that they will falsify and we will not be able to do anything. They will not be able to do so if there is full mobilization and maximum involvement of the population, not only in Georgia, but also abroad. The role of the diaspora in this process is very important. Even if you don’t like any of the parties much, you should still vote for them,” she said.
“I also believe that young people will actively participate in the elections, Because they know very well that this is their ‘last chance.’ We know that many young people have been leaving the country because of difficult living and working conditions. There are no prospects for them in this country today, which I am very sorry for, but this is the reality. Maybe this is the calculation of the government. They are not defenders of national interests. The government encourages young people and the active part of society to leave the country and become immigrants. Therefore, it is very important that the diaspora also actively participates in the elections.”
She went on to claim that the diaspora is prevented in every way from participating in the elections, through not opening polling stations abroad, etc.
“To prevent this, such an opinion was also voiced that they should be given the opportunity to come to Georgia and vote here. There will be a mobilization, and the more they anger the diaspora, the more the diaspora will be involved in the elections,” the President noted.
“Let’s remember that today there are more than a million Georgians abroad, in Europe and America, and more than 17,000 participated in the last elections. It is very easy to increase this number, and the government should not think that they will be able to stop the diaspora from voting and making their independent choice, because they are an integral part of our country and do a lot for our country.
“It will be a completely new election, it will be a referendum, not between war and peace, but between the dark Soviet past and the bright future!”
Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Georgia on 26 October 2024.
The last parliamentary elections in the country were held on October 31, 2020, and Georgian Dream managed to win with 48.22% of the votes.
Presidential elections are also planned in 2024 in Georgia, in which the president will be elected for the first time under a new system, elected by a 300-member electoral group.
By Ana Dumbadze
