In Georgia, President Salomé Zourabichvili declares that she will not leave her post at the end of her mandate

The Georgian President, Salomé Zourabichvili – whose functions are essentially honorary and who is in favor of a rapprochement with the European Union (EU) – has engaged in a standoff with the Parliament resulting from the legislative elections of October 26.

In a speech delivered on Saturday, November 30, she declared that Parliament had no legitimacy to appoint her successor and that she would therefore remain in office at the end of her mandate which ends this year. She judges that the legislative elections won with nearly 54% of the votes by Georgian Dream, the party led by businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, were tainted by fraud.

After the vote, a group of election observers in Georgia said they had evidence of a complex scheme of large-scale voter fraud. The EU has demanded an investigation into what it called « graves » irregularities.

“As long as there are no new elections and a Parliament that elects a new president according to new rules, my mandate will continue”declared Salomé Zourabichvili, in an exclusive interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP). “No one outside of Georgia, among our democratic partners, recognized the elections”underlines the president who presents herself as the “the country’s only legitimate institution”.

A “national council” to ensure “the stability” of the country

The newly elected Parliament announced that it would elect the next president on December 14 and that his inauguration for a five-year term would take place on December 29.

Last week, Georgian Dream nominated Mikheil Kavelachvili, a former footballer who entered politics on the far right, as its candidate for this position. Under constitutional changes imposed by that party in 2017, the president will for the first time be chosen by an electoral college rather than a popular vote. Georgian Dream controlling this electoral college, the election of Mr. Kavelashvili is considered acquired.

Former French diplomat born in Paris, Salomé Zourabichvili announces having set up, on Saturday, a « conseil national » composed of opposition parties and representatives of civil society, which will ensure “stability in this country”. “I will be the representative of this legitimate and stable transition”she said, sending this message to the international community: “No relations with illegitimate representatives of this country. Do business with us, we represent the people of Georgia ». “I am very optimisticshe continued, because something is happening here that we have not seen in the post-Soviet space, that is to say a society which takes its future in hand”.

Demonstrations in many cities

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets for a month to protest alleged electoral fraud and support President Zurabishvili's efforts to hold new elections. Demonstrators are also gathering to protest the government's decision to postpone talks on the country's EU membership.

Saturday evening, for the third consecutive day of protest, clashes broke out in Tbilisi in front of Parliament between the police and pro-European demonstrators. Masked police officers in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and used water cannons to disperse those who were throwing fireworks, according to an AFP journalist. Barricades were erected on the main avenue of the capital. Protests are also taking place in many cities in Georgia.

The Interior Ministry stated that “certain individuals present at the demonstration very quickly became violent”. “The police will respond appropriately and in accordance with the law to each violation”he added.

The two previous demonstrations, Thursday and Friday, had already been dispersed using water cannons and tear gas, with police arresting more than a hundred people for “disobedience” et « vandalism », while at least forty-two police officers were injured. Salomé Zourabichvili, who participated in Thursday's rally, estimated that “the resistance movement has begun”.

A government accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift

The Georgian government, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift, announced on Thursday the postponement of EU accession negotiations until 2028, a long-standing objective approved by 80% of the population. In response, the US State Department announced the suspension of its strategic partnership with Georgia.

In the country, the movement began to extend beyond the streets. Several hundred civil servants, including from the ministries of foreign affairs, defense and education, as well as judges issued joint statements in protest. One hundred and sixty diplomats have also criticized the government's decision to postpone the European integration process, which they consider contrary to the Constitution. Around a hundred schools and universities have suspended their activities.

The Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, presented this decision as a measure of retaliation for the adoption of a non-binding resolution of the European Parliament, in which the latter rejects the results of the legislative elections of October 26, judged “neither free nor fair”. Despite its decision, the Georgian government says it wants to continue reforms and still intends to join the EU in 2030. The Prime Minister denounced a ” blackmail “ from Brussels, while the European Parliament called for new legislative elections.

France called on Friday for “respect for the right to peaceful protest” and underlined “support European aspirations” from Georgia, “who must not be betrayed”. The Council of Europe has condemned the “brutal repression of demonstrations”expressing alarm at the decision of the Georgian government to suspend its negotiations with the EU. Amnesty International has denounced a desire to “remove all dissent”.

Ukraine, which also experienced a pro-European revolution in 2014 after the authorities at the time attempted to suspend rapprochement with the EU, for its part denounced a “use of force” and one “limiting democratic processes” operated “to please Moscow”.