Georgia’s opposition disputes result of crucial vote which could decide the country’s role in Europe
NBCOct 24
Georgia to Conduct Partial Recount of Parliamentary Election Vote
Above: Citizens of Georgia take part during Parliamentary Elections on October 26, 2024, in Tbilisi, Georgia. Image copyright: Nicolo Vincenzo Malvestuto/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Following allegations of election fraud at over a third of the country's polling stations, Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) announced Tuesday that it will conduct a recount at a randomly selected 14% of polling stations throughout the 84 electoral districts.
The ruling Georgian Dream party was reported to have won 54% of the vote, compared to a combined 38% for a coalition of opposition parties. However, both the opposition and election monitors have alleged "large-scale election fraud."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Georgian people voted this year to end the current pro-Russia regime. As fears of a Russian invasion grow, and 70% of the country supports joining the EU, it makes sense that Vladimir Putin would attempt to put his finger on the scale and rig this election. Due to these genuine fears, on top of reports of ballot stuffing and violence, the country must double-check the vote count and see if Moscow did indeed influence the results.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Western establishment is forcing this recount purely because it dislikes the popularity of the Georgian Dream party. Even an opposition-led parallel vote count found that Georgian Dream was leading in the polls, but that doesn't matter to Brussels and its pro-war leaders. Georgian voters support two main policies that the EU can't stand: ending the war in Ukraine and promoting traditional family values. The EU only likes democracy when it advances the bloc's own interests.