For Georgia’s Giorgi Sharashidze: GD chose power retention over Georgia’s European future
“The ruling Georgian Dream party lacks the political will to fulfil Georgia’s constitutionally mandated path towards European Union membership,” opposition MP Giorgi Sharashidze of the Gakharia for Georgia party stated on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists, Sharashidze pointed to the Prime Minister’s 28 November 2024 announcement, which formally suspended Georgia’s EU integration process, as definitive proof of the government’s trajectory.
MP Sharashidze contrasted the current political climate with earlier years under former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, noting that Georgia had previously led the Associated Trio alongside Moldova and Ukraine across virtually all reform indicators.
“We remember well that when Giorgi Gakharia served as Prime Minister, Georgia was the undisputed leader among the Associated Trio, recording significant achievements in almost every domain. Today, however, we see severe backsliding in core values surrounding the rule of law, human rights, judicial independence, and democratic governance. Georgian Dream is hurtling the country towards authoritarianism. How can anyone reconcile banning political parties, crushing dissent, and establishing a single-party state with joining the European Union?” Sharashidze said.
The opposition MP stressed that the central obstacle remains a total absence of political will within the governing coalition.
“Georgian Dream has made a calculated choice to prioritise retaining power above all else. That is their fundamental motive, and why they stand ready to abandon Georgia’s European future. The ruling party understands full well that the moment Georgia returns to a democratic trajectory and embeds itself within the European family, which requires free and fair elections,they will forfeit power immediately,'” Sharashidze stated.
He added that due to their genuine commitment to European principles and structural reforms, candidate countries such as Moldova have pulled decisively ahead of Tbilisi.
“In terms of political will, Moldova and other candidate nations are now far ahead of Georgia. These countries demonstrate a clear commitment to EU values, and their reform programmes show a readiness to meet tough standards—above all, safeguarding human rights, upholding the rule of law, ensuring judicial fairness, and guaranteeing free elections. It is precisely these foundational values that the current Georgian administration is relinquishing. That is our tragic reality,” MP Sharashidze observed.