Georgia’s Protests Erupt Over EU Membership

[Social Media]

 

Georgia’s political landscape has erupted into chaos following the failure of its parliament to pursue European Union membership, triggering widespread protests and a dramatic declaration from its pro-Western president. Salome Zourabichvili, the nation’s president, has refused to relinquish her position to the Moscow-aligned parliament and pledged to stay in office until new elections are held, labeling the current parliament as "illegitimate."

Georgian Rembo 😂👍🇬🇪✌️🇪🇺 #TbilisiProtest #GeorgianProtests pic.twitter.com/ya8vEyzQ5e

— ᎶᎥᎧᏒᎶᎥ 🇬🇪🇪🇺 (@Made_in_Georgia) November 30, 2024

 

“I am president because I’ve been elected by the people, and I’m president until the time when it’s inauguration for a president who is legitimately elected by a legitimately elected parliament,” Zourabichvili stated, vowing to uphold the will of the people. Her announcement came after four consecutive days of protests fueled by accusations that the recent parliamentary elections were rigged and by discontent over the parliament’s decision to withdraw from talks to join the European Union.

Georgian Women’s are the best! They fear nothing!

Наші дівчата найсміливіші! Подивіться, як вона бореться! Вона неймовірна. #GeorgianProtests #TbilisiProtests #Tbilisi #Georgia 🇬🇪✌️🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/hZElIafx9t

— ᎶᎥᎧᏒᎶᎥ 🇬🇪🇪🇺 (@Made_in_Georgia) December 1, 2024

 

This decision has heightened tensions between Zourabichvili and the ruling Georgian Dream Party, which has held power since 2012 and faces widespread accusations of moving Georgia closer to Moscow’s influence. Protesters across the capital city of Tbilisi and other regions have taken to the streets in massive demonstrations, clashing with riot police armed with tear gas and water cannons. Demonstrators threw fireworks as their cries for change echoed throughout the nation, underscoring the deep public dissatisfaction with the government’s pro-Russian pivot.

 

“What we’re seeing today is really the civil society taking over because the state is falling apart,” Zourabichvili told the BBC, emphasizing her role in ensuring stability during this period of upheaval. “I’m offering this stability for the transition, because what these people on the streets are demanding is a call for new elections in order to restore this country and its European path.”

 

The Georgian Dream Party has been accused not only of election manipulation but also of dismantling the country's independent institutions in favor of a pro-Russian agenda. These accusations resonate with a 2023 European Parliament resolution that blamed the ruling party for Georgia’s “worsening democratic crisis,” citing incidents of voter intimidation and systemic manipulation.

 

International reactions to the crisis have been swift. The European Parliament condemned the parliament’s decision, and the United States criticized Georgia for suspending its EU membership aspirations. A statement from the Biden administration called the move a betrayal of the Georgian constitution’s promise to pursue full integration into the European Union and NATO. “This decision goes against the promise to the Georgian people,” the administration declared, announcing the suspension of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership due to "anti-democratic actions."

 

Adding to the dissent, Georgia’s ambassadors to Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Italy resigned in protest against the government’s abandonment of the EU accession process. The rift highlights the growing divide between the ruling party and those committed to Georgia’s European future.

 

The ongoing political crisis has placed Georgia’s future in a precarious position, with its leadership, international alliances, and path toward democracy under intense scrutiny. As thousands continue to march in defiance of tear gas and riot police, the nation stands at a crossroads, its direction uncertain but fiercely contested.

 

Based on a report by the NYP 2024-12-03

 

 

 

[regard39]

Votre titre est démenti par le contenu de l'article !

[newbee2022]

I hope they will not join Nato. Or EU.

No extension please. 

Unless we'll declare "United States of Europe" with only ONE representative (President), One parliament, one jurisdiction and one legislation. One official language. That would be a sustainable power between the big blocks.

It's my dream but I'm too old to see this coming, if ever.

[JonnyF]

Tough choice. The failing EU on one side, Russia on the other.

 

Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Maybe maintaining the current position would be prudent. 

[RayC]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Tough choice. The failing EU on one side, Russia on the other.

 

Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Maybe maintaining the current position would be prudent. 

 

The government of Georgia campaigned on a promise to seek membership of the EU and NATO, but barely a month after being elected they immediately withdraw their support for those policies.

 

You rail against Starmer for broken electoral promises but are happy to adopt a 'watching brief' on this occasion.

 

Nothing like double standards, eh? 

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

The government of Georgia campaigned on a promise to seek membership of the EU and NATO, but barely a month after being elected they immediately withdraw their support for those policies.

 

You rail against Starmer for broken electoral promises but are happy to adopt a 'watching brief' on this occasion.

 

Nothing like double standards, eh? 

 

I am sure their campaign promise re. the EU was one of many campaign promises. You cannot say that every person who voted for them agreed with them on that specific issue. They may have supported their other policies but not that one.

 

You'd need a referendum to isolate that issue to get a true result. Speaking of referendums on EU membership, you were quite happy to ignore the results of the Brexit referendum and re-run it until you got the result you wanted. So it would appear it is you with the double standard, not I.  

[RayC]

36 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I am sure their campaign promise re. the EU was one of many campaign promises. You cannot say that every person who voted for them agreed with them on that specific issue. They may have supported their other policies but not that one.

 

You'd need a referendum to isolate that issue to get a true result. Speaking of referendums on EU membership, you were quite happy to ignore the results of the Brexit referendum and re-run it until you got the result you wanted. So it would appear it is you with the double standard, not I.  

 

Double-speak and hypocrisy at its' lowest.

 

It appears that you only support democracy when it is on your terms: You are happy to criticise the UK Labour government for what you perceive as broken promises, but cannot bring yourself to criticise another government - whose policy you support - when the evidence of a broken promise is much more obvious.

 

79% of the Georgian public were in favour of EU membership in December 2023. No referendum is necessary to get a 'true result'. (Source: https://www.ndi.org/publications/ndi-poll-georgian-citizens-remain-committed-eu-membership-nation-united-its-dreams-and).

 

False accusation: I did not call for a second referendum immediately after the 2016 referendum. I have stated on more than one occasion that I am against referendums in principle - imo governments are elected to govern - and would be delighted if the UK government decided to rejoin the EU (not that there is any chance of that happening).

 

If we must have referendums, then Alex Salmond's "once in a generation" suggestion seems like a pretty good rule of thumb when it comes to frequency. Hopefully, I'll be around in +/-10 years time to see the UK vote to rejoin the EU.

[JonnyF]

53 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Double-speak and hypocrisy at its' lowest.

 

It appears that you only support democracy when it is on your terms: You are happy to criticise the UK Labour government for what you perceive as broken promises, but cannot bring yourself to criticise another government - whose policy you support - when the evidence of a broken promise is much more obvious.

 

79% of the Georgian public were in favour of EU membership in December 2023. No referendum is necessary to get a 'true result'. (Source: https://www.ndi.org/publications/ndi-poll-georgian-citizens-remain-committed-eu-membership-nation-united-its-dreams-and).

 

False accusation: I did not call for a second referendum immediately after the 2016 referendum. I have stated on more than one occasion that I am against referendums in principle - imo governments are elected to govern - and would be delighted if the UK government decided to rejoin the EU (not that there is any chance of that happening).

 

If we must have referendums, then Alex Salmond's "once in a generation" suggestion seems like a pretty good rule of thumb when it comes to frequency. Hopefully, I'll be around in +/-10 years time to see the UK vote to rejoin the EU.

 

Full of strawmen.😆

 

Going back to what I actually said, in my opinion, they would be better served maintaining the status quo. That would be better for Georgia.

 

But if they choose to have a referendum to join and win (the US election showed how polls can be misleading so a proper referendum should be required), then by all means join. Unlike you I won't be calling for a "people's vote" if it goes the "wrong" way. 

[pacovl46]

5 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

I hope they will not join Nato. Or EU.

No extension please. 

Unless we'll declare "United States of Europe" with only ONE representative (President), One parliament, one jurisdiction and one legislation. One official language. That would be a sustainable power between the big blocks.

It's my dream but I'm too old to see this coming, if ever.

That’s never gonna happen and that’s good! Way too much power for just one person. We already have a universal language for the entire globe - English! 

[newbee2022]

1 minute ago, pacovl46 said:

Way too much power for just one person.

What about Putin, Trump, Xi, Modi, Lula.....they show us how's working. But I admit, in my basket there are 3 bad apples. Take your pick 😁

[RayC]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Full of strawmen.😆

 

Going back to what I actually said, in my opinion, they would be better served maintaining the status quo. That would be better for Georgia.

 

But if they choose to have a referendum to join and win (the US election showed how polls can be misleading so a proper referendum should be required), then by all means join. Unlike you I won't be calling for a "people's vote" if it goes the "wrong" way. 

 

An expected response. When challenged resort to a soundbite: 'Gaslighting' is passé; 'Strawman' is the new 'mot du jour'. However, some things remain constant: The charge is without substance.

 

How can continuing with a policy which has led to rioting on the streets be considered better for Georgia? Notwithstanding that, the fact still remains that you appear to accept that breaking electoral promises is justified if it is in the country's best interests. Therefore, there doesn't seem to be much reason for you to continually criticise Starmer over his 'broken promises', as I imagine that he believes that he is acting in the UK's best interests.

 

I forgot to mention previously that all parties in Georgia campaigned on a platform which contained the policy to seek EU membership. Given that - and the fact that the overwhelming majority of Georgians are in favour of seeking EU membership - a referendum is an unnecessary expense. Don't you agree?

 

Unlike you, I do not fabricate evidence to support my argument. I could not have been clearer in my previous post: I am not in favour of referendums. However, having held one in 2016 the result had to be respected. Therefore, I did not call for a "People's vote'" in 2016 and have not done so at any time since then. I would like the UK government to negotiate rejoining the EU, but I recognise that the likelihood of that happening is virtually zero and that the only realistic way the UK will rejoin is by firstly returning a vote in favour of rejoining in another referendum. To that end, another referendum on the issue in the mid-30s would seem about right to me. Sufficient time will have passed to have shown that there are few, if any, 'Brexit' benefits and a completely new generation, who did not vote the first time round, will get the opportunity to make their feelings known.

 

As for you not calling for a 'People's vote' when the vote goes against you. Really? I recall you posting recently that you had signed the petition for asking for a General Election to be held in the UK. Of course, that's not hypocrisy that's completely different.

[candide]

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Tough choice. The failing EU on one side, Russia on the other.

 

Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Maybe maintaining the current position would be prudent. 

Where do you think it 's better to live? In the EU or in Russia? 😆

[rudi49jr]

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Tough choice. The failing EU on one side, Russia on the other.

 

Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Maybe maintaining the current position would be prudent. 

Yes, that is certainly a difficult choice. On the one hand you have Russia, a fascist dictatorial state ruled by a ruthless kleptocracy, the economy is going down the toilet, no freedom of speech (unless you toe the official Kremlin line), any criticism can either land you in jail or the gulag for 10-20 years, or dead as a result of falling out of windows, poisoning, or you just disappear. And if you’re a poor male between 18 and 55, you stand the chance of being draughted into the army and sent to the front as cannon fodder.

On the other hand you have the EU. That is certainly not an ideal society, far from it, but I’m quite sure that most people in Europe (those with more than two functioning brain cells, that is) would much rather live in the EU than in Russia. 
So actually not a very difficult choice at all.

[JonnyF]

36 minutes ago, candide said:

Where do you think it 's better to live? In the EU or in Russia? 😆

 

That depends on which part of Russia and which part of the EU.

 

I'd take Saint Petersburg for example over many cities in the EU. 

[candide]

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

That depends on which part of Russia and which part of the EU.

 

I'd take Saint Petersburg for example over many cities in the EU. 

With a local salary?

[JonnyF]

17 minutes ago, candide said:

With a local salary?

 

You'd earn a lot less in many EU cities.

 

 

[candide]

47 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

You'd earn a lot less in many EU cities.

 

 

The average salary in SP is 10 290,15 Euro /year compared to 21 219,47 Euro in Poland.

https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/area/russian-federation/saint-petersburg

[pacovl46]

On 12/3/2024 at 8:23 AM, newbee2022 said:

What about Putin, Trump, Xi, Modi, Lula.....they show us how's working. But I admit, in my basket there are 3 bad apples. Take your pick 😁

I meant one ruler for the UK is too mich power for one man....

[newbee2022]

12 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

I meant one ruler for the UK is too mich power for one man....

......As long the ruler is not a Tory or any other conservative party (Farage)....😂?