Polls show that the majority of Georgians are in favor of EU and NATO membership. This is despite Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russian invasion and growing concerns over Georgian Dream’s apparent pivot towards Moscow.
Georgia’s ruling and opposition parties both claimed victory at a parliamentary vote on Saturday, 26 October. They said the election would determine whether Georgia leans towards the West or back towards Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian War.
This parliamentary vote represents a critical inflection point in Georgia’s geopolitical path, as the country with 3.7 million people is torn between Western integration and Russian influences amid Moscow’s ongoing conflict against Ukraine. The results of the election could determine whether Georgia continues to drift towards Moscow or recommits itself to its Euro-Atlantic ambitions. This choice has significant implications for regional stabilty and the wider contest between democratic systems and authoritarian ones in the world.
Reuters reported that rival exit polls had drastically different projections of the election. One survey showed that the ruling party which has adopted a pro-Russian stance, would win comfortably, while two other surveys showed the opposition clinching a majority.
A poll conducted by Imedi TV, a channel that supports Georgian Dream, showed that the ruling party won 56% of the votes.
Exit polls conducted by the proopposition Formula and Mtavari Arkhi showed that pro-Western parties had made significant gains. They suggested that they would be able to combine forces in order to form a majority in the 150-seat parliament.
All three TV stations showed their respective candidates clapping in victory and celebrating.
Bidzina, the billionaire founder of the ruling party and former prime minister, Bidzina, has claimed victory.
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