Georgian Dream Wins Parliamentary Election Amid Protests

The ruling Georgian Dream party has secured a significant victory in the recent parliamentary elections, with preliminary results indicating it received over 54% of the vote, enabling it to maintain control of parliament. This election, viewed as pivotal for Georgia's political alignment between the West and Russia, has sparked intense backlash from the pro-Western opposition, which claims widespread electoral fraud and intends to contest the results. President Salome Zourabichvili and opposition leaders have asserted that the election was stolen, citing incidents of voter intimidation and violence as major concerns. Despite the ruling party's success, the opposition managed to collectively garner around 37.58% of the vote, but fell short of forming a pro-European coalition government. The results have drawn criticism from international observers, who noted critical violations during the voting process, raising questions about Georgia's democratic integrity and future EU aspirations. Overall, the political landscape remains tense, as the opposition vows to challenge the legitimacy of the elections amidst allegations of rigging and manipulation.