Georgia’s Election Controversy: Protests and Recount Demanded
The central election commission of Georgia has announced that it will partially recount ballots due to opposition parties’ claims that the recent parliamentary election was "stolen". The opposition parties have refused to recognize the results, which showed the ruling Georgian Dream party winning 53.9%.
Protests and Demonstrations
Tens of thousands of people joined a protest rally in Tbilisi yesterday, with a fresh anti-government demonstration announced for this evening. Pro-western opposition parties have refused to enter the new "illegitimate" parliament and have demanded "fresh" elections run by an "international election administration".
Electoral Commission’s Decision
The electoral commission has announced that district election commissions will conduct recounts of ballots from five polling stations randomly selected in each election district, making up about 14% of the vote. This move is a response to the opposition’s allegations of widespread fraud and irregularities in the election process.
International Reactions
The European Union (EU) has condemned electoral "irregularities", while the US has also expressed concerns. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained friendly ties with Russia, arrived in Tbilisi yesterday and hailed the vote as "free and democratic". He congratulated the Georgian people on "having voted for peace" and "not letting your country become a second Ukraine".
Election Monitors’ Findings
A group of Georgia’s leading election monitors, including data analyst Levan Kvirkvelia, have uncovered evidence of complex, large-scale fraud and demanded the annulment of at least 15% of votes cast. They claimed that data analysis shows evidence of ballot stuffing and miscounting, which occurred exclusively in rural areas.
Conservative Values
Orban, who is the current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency and the Kremlin’s closest EU associate, share "conservative, Christian values" with his Georgian counterpart, Irakli Kobakhidze. The two leaders have thanked each other for their support, with Orban endorsing Tbilisi’s bid for EU membership, which the Georgian government claims is its top priority.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Georgia’s recent parliamentary election has led to widespread protests and demonstrations. The electoral commission’s decision to recount ballots is a move to address the opposition’s allegations of fraud and irregularities. However, the international community’s reactions have been mixed, with some countries, like the EU and the US, expressing concerns, while others, like Hungary, have hailed the vote as "free and democratic".
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did the opposition parties claim about the election?
A: They claimed that the election was "stolen" and "illegitimate" due to widespread fraud and irregularities.
Q: What is the electoral commission’s response?
A: The electoral commission has announced that district election commissions will conduct recounts of ballots from five polling stations randomly selected in each election district, making up about 14% of the vote.
Q: What is the international community’s reaction?
A: The EU has condemned electoral "irregularities", while the US has expressed concerns. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has hailed the vote as "free and democratic".