President Zourabichvili Announces October 26 for 2024 Parliamentary Elections
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
President Salome Zourabichvili officially announced October 26 as the date for Georgia's 2024 parliamentary elections. She signed the decree live on August 26.
President Zourabichvili emphasized the significance of these elections, stating they are not just ordinary polls but an "existential" choice for the country. She refuted claims suggesting the elections are a choice between war and peace. "They want to convince us that it will be a kind of choice between war and peace!" she said. "This is a lie, because the threat of war cannot be prevented by elections, and no one ever chooses war."
She assured that no one in Georgia wants war or is preparing for it. "Isolation, internal conflict, blurring of your priorities and goals increase the enemy's appetite, i.e., the threat of war," she explained.
Zourabichvili framed the elections as a pivotal referendum on Georgia's future direction-whether towards Europe or Russia. "And it is true that we should prepare for elections, which (I say this from the first day) will be equal to the referendum-Europe or Russia," she noted. "This requires us to be fully mobilized, to dispel our fears and to understand our own responsibility."
She criticized Bidzina Ivanishvili, stating, "On April 29, Ivanishvili addressed us with a war speech: he declared war on his people, his youth, and patriots inside the country, and on our loyal partners outside the country." Zourabichvili accused Ivanishvili of leading the country to a critical juncture, where the choice is between a European, democratic future or a return to Russian influence. "He accused everyone separately and all together of treachery," she said.
The President acknowledged the challenges facing the elections, including threats and attempts to intimidate. "We already hear the threats voiced at all levels of government. They scare us with war, sword, arrest, but this means nothing, because there is no government that will go against the people and win," she said.
Zourabichvili emphasized Georgia's resilience and urged all citizens, both inside and outside the country, to participate in the elections. She highlighted that Georgia has endured many hardships, but its faith in the future remains strong. She expressed confidence that no one would remain indifferent and that all Georgians would take part in shaping the country's future through their vote.
