Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has officially won last month’s parliamentary elections, according to final results released by the national election commission on Saturday. The party secured 53.93% of the votes, outpacing a coalition of four opposition alliances, which garnered 37.79%.
The announcement comes amidst widespread allegations of electoral fraud and accusations of Russian interference. The country’s pro-Western opposition and President Salome Zourabichvili have challenged the legitimacy of the results. President Zourabichvili has stated she does not recognize the outcome, referring to the election as a “Russian special operation.”
The Central Election Commission had previously indicated the Georgian Dream party’s lead based on early counts. However, the opposition swiftly protested, demanding a thorough investigation into reported irregularities.
This election marked a significant shift in Georgia’s electoral process, being the first conducted entirely under a fully proportional system. Notably, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots electronically at polling stations across the country in late October.
In response to the allegations of meddling, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied any Russian interference in Georgia’s parliamentary elections, labeling the claims as “completely unfounded.”
The situation has drawn attention from international observers, with Western nations calling for transparent inquiries into the electoral process to ensure the integrity of Georgia’s democratic institutions.
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Georgia's poll body confirms ruling party's win in parliamentary vote
cgtn.com
