On October 26, 2024, Georgia will hold parliamentary elections, with EU accession and its implications taking center stage in voter discussions and the election campaign. The outcome of these elections will not only shape the political landscape but also affect Georgia's path toward European integration.
In 2023, the European Commission recommended that the European Council grant candidate status to Georgia, contingent upon nine key steps. Among these, ensuring a free, fair, and competitive electoral process and finalizing electoral reforms are crucial, as well as guaranteeing the institutional independence and impartiality of key bodies like the Election Administration.
Free and fair elections are crucial for a government and parliament to legitimately represent their citizens. Without them, a country cannot be considered democratic, which hinders its prospects for joining the EU. In Georgia, significant challenges remain during the pre-election period, particularly concerning election administration. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, continues to control the election commission at all levels, resulting in a lack of necessary reforms and raising concerns about the integrity and competitiveness of the upcoming elections.
In the framework of the GEO4EU project, Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) produced the fact-checking video “The Importance of Free and Fair Elections in Georgia”. The video aims to help counter the narrative that the EU’s recommendations are a means to manipulate the elections. Speaker is Davit Aprasidze, Professor of Political Science at the Ilia State University.