President Zourabichvili calls Georgia's ruling party "nightmare"

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has criticised the ruling Georgian Dream party, stating it has transformed from a dream into a nightmare.

She made the remarks at the 8th International Conference "2024: A Decisive Year," emphasising that the country is at a crucial juncture, Caliber.Az informs, citing Georgian media.

Zourabichvili expressed concern over the party's silence regarding Russia, which occupies 20 per cent of Georgian territory, while some individuals accuse the country's key allies of promoting global conflict.

She confidently asserted that the Georgian people will voice their opinions in the parliamentary elections on October 26, reaffirming that Georgia has always aligned itself with Europe and considers itself a European nation.

Notably, this isn't the first time Salome Zourabichvili had condemned the ruling party. On July 9, the President of Georgia highlighted that the ruling party "Georgian Dream's" reckless and "hostile" policy towards its partners had resulted in US sanctions and stalled the country's European Union integration.

In a Facebook post, Zourabichvili noted that the moment called for serious concern, not triumphant declarations. She stated that the suspension of military exercises and aid to Georgia was a reaction from the country's partners to the government's anti-European and anti-Western rhetoric and actions.

According to the Georgian president, these decisions served as a warning to Georgian society, emphasizing that the country faced a choice between a secure European future or isolation within Russia's sphere of influence.

Georgia's parliament recently overturned a presidential veto on the controversial "transparency on foreign influence" bill, often referred to as the "foreign agents law." This law mandates that media and NGOs receiving over 20 per cent of their funding from abroad must register as “organizations acting in the interest of a foreign power,” undergo stringent audits, or face heavy fines. The bill, passed primarily by the ruling Georgian Dream party, has ignited widespread protests in Tbilisi, with demonstrators fearing it mirrors a similar law in Russia designed to suppress dissent.

Despite warnings from the EU and the US that the legislation could jeopardize Georgia's EU candidacy and strain international relations, the government argues that the law will increase transparency and protect against foreign interference. Georgian President Salome Zourabishvili, who vetoed the bill citing pro-Western concerns, has proposed a new charter aimed at guiding Georgia towards European integration, calling for significant reforms and unity among opposition parties ahead of the October parliamentary elections. However, the law is set to come into effect in 60 days, further escalating tensions in the country.