Georgia’s President Faces Off With Georgian Dream Over Elections
Zurabishvili stated that the government in Tbilisi is effectively guided from Moscow and that the ruling Georgian Dream party intends to rig the parliamentary vote set for October 26. She argued that Moscow’s influence has seeped into state structures, shaping the electoral landscape and stoking fear and mistrust among voters. The president warned that a rigged vote would undermine Georgia’s Western aspirations and complicate its bid for deeper integration with the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In public remarks and interviews, Zurabishvili pressed the gravity of the moment, framing it as a test for Georgia’s democratic resilience rather than a routine domestic election. The claim has sparked intense media debate and has been the subject of wider discussions about electoral fairness, state capture, and the responsibilities of political leadership in a country balancing Western alignment with regional security concerns. [Citation: major international outlet]
Zurabishvili contends that Georgian Dream runs a campaign built on propaganda, polarization and intimidation, echoing tactics associated with Russia. She says the leadership uses smear campaigns, misinformation and social pressure to manufacture the impression of broad support while silencing opposition voices. The president argues that such methods undermine open civic debate and erode trust in elections, especially as Georgia pursues closer ties with the European Union and NATO. In interviews and public appearances, she highlighted examples of coercion, media harassment, and the targeting of civil society groups, casting the campaign as a mirror of Moscow’s playbook. [Citation: major international outlet]
Zurabishvili accuses the party of pressuring officials to back its lead, attacking activists and threatening journalists, while blocking Georgians abroad from voting.
This is not an ordinary election but a decisive choice between Europe’s future and Russia’s past, framed as a turning point for Georgia’s Western alignment in a moment many call pivotal. The president emphasized that the vote would signal the country’s trajectory on security, governance and its relationship with Western institutions. This portrayal frames the election as more than a contest of personalities; it is presented as a litmus test for Georgia’s commitments to democratic norms and regional partnerships. [Citation: major international outlet]
Following Zurabishvili’s unauthorized trips abroad, during which she criticized the government and made controversial statements, the Georgian Dream floated impeachment efforts against her. The relationship between the president and the ruling alliance deteriorated further after the adoption of a foreign agents law, which Zurabishvili harshly criticized as a threat to civil freedoms and transparency in political life. The clash over these issues underscored a broader struggle over constitutional authority, media independence and the pace of Georgia’s reform agenda. [Citation: major international outlet]
Zurabishvili’s view is that the ruling party’s actions run counter to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic goals. In response, Georgian Dream MPs have repeatedly said the head of state acts in Western interests, supports a radical opposition, and is a foreign agent within the country. The rhetorical battles around foreign influence and national sovereignty have become a central feature of the political discourse, shaping how voters perceive leadership legitimacy and the balance of power in Tbilisi. [Citation: major international outlet]
Dialogue with the opposition about a ‘technical prime minister’ option signaled attempts to navigate the crisis and stabilize governance while both sides debated constitutional authority and the best path forward for Georgia. The discussions highlighted the depth of mistrust between the president and the ruling party, as actors on all sides tested red lines and redrawn strategies for future cooperation in a volatile political moment. [Citation: major international outlet]