President Salome Zourabichvili Ready for Second Term to Secure European Future
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili expressed her willingness to assume greater responsibilities, including a potential second presidential term, to ensure Georgia's return to a European trajectory. President Zourabichvili's current term ends in December, and according to constitutional amendments passed in 2017, the next president will not be elected by a popular vote but rather by a 300-member electoral college composed of MPs and local and regional authorities.
During the interview, President Zourabichvili shared her thoughts on the upcoming parliamentary elections, stating, "We have to be ready for anything" from the government, including potential "machinations" such as obstructing the voting process for Georgians living abroad and exploiting administrative resources and propaganda related to the war or the LGBTQ+ issue. Based on polling, Zourabichvili predicted that the ruling party would secure "no more than 25 percent" of the vote.
Despite the fragmented nature of Georgia's pro-Western opposition, Zourabichvili remained optimistic, emphasizing that although the opposition "cannot be united given the recent past," it could still coalesce around the European idea and secure "50 or 60 percent of the votes." She underscored the importance of unity in the face of the October elections, which she suggested could be decisive for Georgia's future direction.
Zourabichvili also voiced her concerns over the controversial "foreign agents" law, which she highlighted as being deliberately labeled a "Russian law." She drew parallels with how Russian President Vladimir Putin had used a similar law to undermine Russian civil society, warning that the Georgian government seemed intent on cutting the country off from Europe and turning Georgia into a "Russian protectorate."
Addressing how France and the European Union could assist Georgia, Zourabichvili called on them to speak out against the Georgian government's actions, which she claimed were moving the country away from its European aspirations. While not a strong advocate for sanctions, Zourabichvili noted that such measures could be misinterpreted by the public but did not rule out the possibility of European responses post-election, particularly if Georgia's pro-Russian orientation was confirmed.
The President underscored that the upcoming elections would effectively serve as a referendum on Georgia's European future, warning that the country faced an "existential choice" between pursuing its European destiny or reverting to a Russian-dominated regime. Zourabichvili expressed particular concern over the influence of Georgian Dream's honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, an oligarch with close ties to Moscow. She stated that his interests with Russia were "the most opaque."
Zourabichvili framed the parliamentary elections on October 26 as a pivotal moment for Georgia, determining whether the country would maintain its European course or fall back under Russian influence.
