Irakli Kobakhidze: Europe is Georgia’s historic choice, but the EU faces a serious crisis of identity

“Europe is undergoing a serious identity crisis,” the Prime Minister declared in response to a reporter’s question.

According to the head of government, European countries are grappling with a deep crisis of identity regarding ethnic, religious, and personal alignment.

“The reason we demand dialogue and open discussion is simple: when we are told that the government and the country have veered off the European course, we want them to explain to us exactly how. Let us sit down and have them explain, clarify, and present their arguments,” Irakli Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister pointed to past political battles over the foreign influence transparency law, alleging that foreign diplomats previously misled the public about its contents.

“They launched a shameful campaign against the transparency law; something the entire public now sees through. Everyone understands that this law was not ‘Russian’. The former US Ambassador and the EU Ambassador ran a campaign built on lies. In light of this, we need an explanation as to why that campaign was waged. We have our own arguments, which is precisely why discussion is needed,” Kobakhidze noted.

Defending the ruling party’s legislative package on “family values” and the protection of minors, Kobakhidze argued that Western criticism undermines traditional societal norms.

“When we discuss the law on family values and the protection of minors, they ought to explain why it is considered ‘un-European’ to say a man cannot simply go and register himself as a woman. They demand that same-sex couples be allowed to adopt children, or that a man can re-register as a woman and a woman as a man. Is that not the loss of personal identity?” Kobakhidze insisted.

The Prime Minister highlighted demographic and social trends.

“Europe is undergoing a serious identity crisis. First, let us look at ethnic issues: one of the primary problems European countries face is forced migration imposed directly at the policy level, radically altering demographics. That is the first, undeniable fact. This is precisely why we want a debate—so we can talk about hard facts.

Second, regarding religious identity, there are already several European nations where less than half the population identifies as Christian. And as for personal identity, they demand these same changes from us.

As for personal identity: leaving other nations aside, they are demanding that we allow a man to simply walk into a registry office and sign himself up as a woman. This is what they are demanding of us. Is this not a loss of personal identity? Vague, off-the-cuff remarks are one thing, but the facts show that European nations are experiencing a severe identity crisis across ethnic, religious, and personal lines. The EU is demanding that we allow same-sex couples to adopt children, and that a man can go and register as a woman, or a woman go and register as a man,” the Prime Minister has said.

Reaffirming Georgia’s long-term orientation, Kobakhidze expressed hope that European institutions would eventually reverse what he termed a departure from core European heritage.

“Europe is our historic choice. The European Union is its institutional expression. But if Europe loses its own European identity, that becomes a fundamental issue. We hope Europe, including the European Union, manages to turn things around. Global events are changing very rapidly, and shifts could happen in two, three, or four years. In the meantime, we continue on our path,” Kobakhidze emphasised.