On Sunday, DW correspondent Juri Reshetou spoke exclusively to Kavelashvili, who stressed that the election has delivered a credible mandate for the ruling Georgian Dream party.
“I have been in politics for the last 10 years,” Kavelashvili told DW. “Compared to all previous elections, the most recent elections were conducted better than before. Without any violations.”
Georgian Dream won parliamentary elections in October 2024, but was mired in allegations of vote fraud and led to months of street protests.
The European Parliament and international election observers have also noted deficiencies in Georgia’s democratic processes, highlighting the ongoing tension between the government’s claims and external assessments.
Protestors renew call for increased EU membership
Protesters have gathered repeatedly to demand a faster path to EU membership.
Kavelashvili said the government remained committed to the European future, despite the fact that accession negotiations were stalled, but noted a decline in support for joining the EU.
“The Georgian Dream government has never ruled out joining the EU,” he said.
“If 80% of the population supports joining the EU, and 60% supports the Georgian Dream, what does this mean? It turns out that the majority supports both EU membership and the Georgian Dream.”
Georgia’s EU accession timeline uncertain
Polling shows that almost three-quarters of Georgians are in favor of EU integration. Looking ahead, Kavelashvili was cautious about providing a timeline.
“Georgia will be ready to join the EU by 2030, but right now we don’t know whether the EU’s approach will change or will remain the same,” he said. “Sometimes they recognize this government, and sometimes they don’t. It’s absurd.”
He argued that the EU would have to “change its attitude towards Georgia” if the country is to join the bloc, starting with media coverage.
One of the sticking points is the “foreign agent” law.
Critics describe it as “the law of Russia” because it is similar to the law used by the Kremlin and say it could be used to threaten civil liberties.
It requires non-governmental organizations and print, online and broadcast media that receive more than 20% of their annual revenue from “a foreign power” to register with the Ministry of Justice as “organizations serving the interests of a foreign power”.
However, Kavelashvili said, “This law is about transparency.” “NGOs are obliged to show all their documents and be transparent about their spending, nothing more.”
Constitutional issues at the center of protests
Despite Kavelashvili’s insistence that the Georgian Dream enjoys strong support, political divisions persist, reflected in the ongoing protests.
Kavelashvili dismissed the protesters as misguided and externally influenced, claiming that they serve foreign interests and do not act for the welfare of citizens, contrary to Georgia’s relations with the EU.
Commenting on constitutional matters, Kavelashvili highlighted his government’s approach, saying: “We are proud of our Constitution. It clearly guarantees the civil rights of all citizens, including minorities. Discrimination in any form is unacceptable.”
However, he defended the government’s stance over the party’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights.
“The ruling party recognizes marriage only as a union between a man and a woman. Our policy is based on protecting traditional values and ensuring that the younger generation is protected from LGBT-related propaganda influences.”
This stance puts Georgia at odds with EU norms regarding minority and LGBTQ+ rights, making it one of the potential obstacles to its accession.
Edited by: Louis Olofse
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