The Georgian election was described as a fateful election. Initially, things looked good for the opposition, which had managed to gather under an initiative. But when the votes were counted, Georgian Dream, which had ruled the country for twelve years, was the winner again.
The opposition called it a Russian influence operation and called for protests. Various demands have been put forward about, among other things, new elections, and several organizations and countries criticized the election.
The government is strengthened by Trump’s victory
At the same time that the various sides have tried to control the image of how the election went, a more attention-grabbing election took place in the United States, which was won by Donald Trump.
– I would say that Trump’s win is important for the Georgian dream, says Hugo von Essen, analyst at the Center for Eastern European Studies.
Trump’s win confirms the image of Georgian Dream and its frontman Ivanishvili that the world is moving away from the liberal world order and democracy, von Essen believes. He believes that the rulers of Georgia are counting on a future where the West will abandon Ukraine and that Russia will get some positive outcome from the war.
– In such a situation, it is better to have stable or positive relations with Russia and not put all the eggs in one basket, the Western basket. I think people have strengthened their conviction about it after Trump’s victory, says von Essen.
The expert: Trump has no problem with authoritarian regimes
The US has previously issued sanctions against Georgia – something that both civil society and the opposition had requested. If any country could influence the political development in Georgia, it is the United States, according to von Essen.
– I think the opposition hoped very much that Harris would win and continue Biden’s rhetoric and policy against the Georgian dream. But with Trump in power, who doesn’t have a big problem with authoritarian regimes, I rather think he’ll be friends with them. I find it hard to see that he would care and step in, says von Essen.
Few Americans have any knowledge of the country and instead the focus seems to be on the threats from Iran and China, countries and relationships that ordinary Americans care about, says von Essen.
Trump’s win – the nail in the coffin for the opposition
After the election, the streets of Tbilisi have been filled with protesters. However, they have not had the same impact as when protests were announced in connection with the government wanting to introduce the “foreign agent law”. At the same time, it has been a little unclear exactly what the opposition wants to happen.
– It is a very clear thing to protest against a specific law, now it is a little less clear exactly what it is that you want, even if you protest against general election fraud, says Hugo von Essen.
He believes that today there is a widespread view that the Georgian dream won the election – despite all the inaccuracies that have been reported. From the opposition’s side, they had hoped for strong support from the West after the election.
– In this way, the election in the US is a bit of a nail in the coffin for their hopes and dreams that the West will come in and save the situation, says von Essen.