On September 24, the Georgian Institute of Politics and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) hosted a REUNIR webinar “Crucial Elections: Georgia’s Struggle for Democracy and European Future”.
As Georgia approaches its pivotal parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024, tensions are escalating both within the country and on the international stage. The election is seen as a decisive, carrying significant consequences for Georgia’s future trajectory. The outcome of the election will shape the nation’s path, either advancing European integration or pulling the country back toward Russian dominance, with long-lasting impacts on its future.
The pre-election tension in Georgia also represents a crucial test for democracy in the EU’s neighbourhood, both in terms of upholding European values and maintaining unity in the face of external pressures.
The panel, moderated by Steven Blockmans, Senior Research Fellow at CEPS, featured a lineup of long-time observers of Georgian politics: Dr. David Aprasidze (Ilia State University), Dr. Laure Delcour (Sorbonne Nouvelle), Dr. Licinia Simao (University of Coimbra) and Richard Youngs (Carnegie Europe).
The discussion reflected on the following questions:
- What do increasing polarization and the attempts of the GD to consolidate authoritarianism mean for the stability of Georgia?
- What post-election scenarios may be expected and how will these impact Georgia’s relations with the EU?
- How does Georgia’s “multi-vector” foreign policy align with the EU’s CFSP? What risks does the course of the country entail for the EU’s neighbourhood policy?
Please access the link to view the event: REUNIR webinar
