GORI, Oct 25(Alliance News): In the town of Gori, home to a museum dedicated to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Georgia stands at a political crossroads as fears of a return to authoritarianism grow ahead of the October 26 parliamentary elections.
Observers express concern over the ruling Georgian Dream party’s recent shift away from liberal ideals, a change that mirrors the influence of its founder, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has increasingly promoted anti-West rhetoric and authoritarian policies.
Ivanishvili, who served as Georgia’s prime minister briefly and now heads the party, recently suggested that Georgia should apologize for its 2008 war with Russia, sparking backlash from pro-European citizens who remember the conflict as a Russian invasion of their homeland.
President Salome Zourabichvili has urged the public to vote against Georgian Dream, signaling a divide over Georgia’s future direction, with many seeing this election as pivotal for the country’s democracy.
For young, pro-European Georgians, the potential slide toward authoritarianism and Russian alignment is deeply concerning.
The recent shift of Georgian Dream to right-wing policies, including restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, has left many questioning the future of democracy in the country.