Maintains after recount: Georgian Dream won

The ruling government party won the weekend's election in Georgia, announces the country's election authority once again. It claims to have conducted a recount of a small part of the votes.

» Published: October 31 2024

Maintains after recount: Georgian Dream won
Photo: Shakh Aivazov/AP/TT

According to the election result announced over the weekend, the ruling Georgian Dream party won the election with almost 54 percent of the votes. Both the opposition and observers, as well as foreign governments, have questioned the result and pointed to various forms of pressure and suspected fraud before and during the election.

The day before yesterday, the election authority announced that a kind of recount of votes would take place in a small number of randomly selected polling stations in each constituency. The opposition already then condemned it as an attempt by a government-friendly authority to whitewash the result.

There have been recounts in 12 percent of the polling stations, says a representative of the authority to the news agency AFP. It did not show any "significant" deviations that would affect the official result, it is said.

The country's EU-friendly president, Salomé Zourabichvili, has said that the election was marked by "sophisticated fraud" and that Georgians have been subjected to a "Russian special operation". Thousands of people have demonstrated in the capital Tbilisi.

Georgian Dream has in recent years adopted a more conciliatory tone towards the large neighboring country Russia, which in practice controls a large part of the country since a war 16 years ago. The ruling party has introduced laws similar to Russian laws that restrict civil society and silence opposition voices. Before the election, it also said it wanted to ban the country's leading opposition parties in the event of an election victory.

The Georgian government, led by the Georgian Dream party, introduced a so-called agent law in June despite widespread popular protests against it.

The law means that organizations that receive more than one-fifth of their funding from abroad must register with the authorities as organizations that act on behalf of a foreign power. It raises questions about press freedom and aid from, among other things, Sweden. The law text has apparently been drafted according to a model used in Russia to restrict civil society and regime criticism.

Georgia has previously inscribed in its constitution that the country's government should strive for EU membership. In December last year, the country received formal status as a candidate country for membership – but when the agent law was passed, EU leaders announced that it effectively meant a stop to the membership process.

In connection with this, the EU summit also demanded that threats and violence against opposition members, journalists, and representatives of civil society should cease.

The few opinion polls that have been conducted have shown that a large majority of Georgia's population wants to join the EU.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Trump Adviser Mike Waltz Accused
1 MIN READ

Trump Adviser Mike Waltz Accused of Using Private Email for Official Work

Zelenskyj Seeks Support for Potential
1 MIN READ

Zelenskyj Seeks Support for Potential Peacekeeping Forces in Ukraine

Denmark Sets 18-Year Age Limit
1 MIN READ

Denmark Sets 18-Year Age Limit for High-Alcohol Drinks

Le Pen Awaits Appeal Verdict
2 MIN READ

Le Pen Awaits Appeal Verdict on 2027 Election Ban Next Summer

Fourth Missing US Soldier Found
1 MIN READ

Fourth Missing US Soldier Found Dead in Lithuania

Russian Advances in Eastern Ukraine
1 MIN READ

Russian Advances in Eastern Ukraine Slow for Fourth Month

Bird Flu Outbreak Hits Danish
1 MIN READ

Bird Flu Outbreak Hits Danish Farm, 24 Chickens Culled

23 States Sue Trump Administration
2 MIN READ

23 States Sue Trump Administration Over Health Funding Cuts

Europol Set for Expansion in
1 MIN READ

Europol Set for Expansion in New EU Security Strategy

Search Underway for Missing Plane
1 MIN READ

Search Underway for Missing Plane with Two Aboard Near Bergen, Norway

Trump's First Foreign Trip as
1 MIN READ

Trump's First Foreign Trip as President: Saudi Arabia and Beyond

Danish Police Arrest 10 Bandidos
1 MIN READ

Danish Police Arrest 10 Bandidos Gang Members at Sejet Inn

German EU Politician Faces Probe
1 MIN READ

German EU Politician Faces Probe Over Controversial Nazi Greeting Post

EU Eyes Boosting Eastern Infrastructure
1 MIN READ

EU Eyes Boosting Eastern Infrastructure for Defense and Development

23 States Sue Trump Administration
2 MIN READ

23 States Sue Trump Administration Over $11 Billion Health Cuts

Israel Sets Record for Palestinian
3 MIN READ

Israel Sets Record for Palestinian Home Demolitions in West Bank

Red Cross Faces Deadliest Attack
2 MIN READ

Red Cross Faces Deadliest Attack in Eight Years During Gaza Conflict

Georgia Approves US-Inspired Agent Law
1 MIN READ

Georgia Approves US-Inspired Agent Law After Criticism

Scottish Fisherman Missing Since 2021
1 MIN READ

Scottish Fisherman Missing Since 2021 Identified on Norwegian Coast

Ukraine Election Preparations Denied by
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Election Preparations Denied by Zelenskyj's Party Leader

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Norwegian Man Gets Life for Murdering Finnish Hockey Star Janne Puhakka

Denmark Sees Highest Wolf Population
1 MIN READ

Denmark Sees Highest Wolf Population in Modern History

USA and Ukraine Resume Talks
1 MIN READ

USA and Ukraine Resume Talks on Key Mineral Agreement

Finland Prepares to Exit Ottawa
1 MIN READ

Finland Prepares to Exit Ottawa Treaty on Personal Mines

Denmark Boosts Defense with 130
1 MIN READ

Denmark Boosts Defense with 130 New Armored Vehicles from Finland

Media Worker Killed in Gaza
1 MIN READ

Media Worker Killed in Gaza as Evacuations Ordered in the North

Palestinian Teen Dies in Israeli
2 MIN READ

Palestinian Teen Dies in Israeli Prison After Six Months Without Charge

Bardella Slams Le Pen Verdict
1 MIN READ

Bardella Slams Le Pen Verdict as Politically Driven in EU Funds Case

Iceland's Grindavík Evacuated as Lava
2 MIN READ

Iceland's Grindavík Evacuated as Lava Flows from New Eruption

Woman Rescued 91 Hours After
3 MIN READ

Woman Rescued 91 Hours After Myanmar Earthquake Kills 2,700

UNICEF Reports Over 300 Children
1 MIN READ

UNICEF Reports Over 300 Children Killed in Gaza in Recent Conflict

145 Injured in Massive Gas
2 MIN READ

145 Injured in Massive Gas Pipeline Fire Near Kuala Lumpur

Netanyahu Reconsiders Shin Bet Appointment
2 MIN READ

Netanyahu Reconsiders Shin Bet Appointment After US Criticism

SpaceX Rocket Launches First Norwegian
2 MIN READ

SpaceX Rocket Launches First Norwegian to Space in 46-Minute Polar Journey

Løkke and Rubio to Discuss
1 MIN READ

Løkke and Rubio to Discuss US-Denmark Tensions Over Greenland

China to Engage in Peace
1 MIN READ

China to Engage in Peace Efforts for Ukraine Conflict Resolution

EU Criticizes China's Military Drills
2 MIN READ

EU Criticizes China's Military Drills Near Taiwan

Republicans Explore Path for Trump
3 MIN READ

Republicans Explore Path for Trump 2028 Third Term Bid

British Adventurer Becomes First Woman
1 MIN READ

British Adventurer Becomes First Woman to Solo Ski Across Baffin Island

Israeli Strike in Beirut Kills
2 MIN READ

Israeli Strike in Beirut Kills Four, Lebanon Calls Ceasefire Breach