Speaker Papuashvili: Macron's statement relies on false narratives, undermines trust in foreign gov't
Speaker Papuashvili: Macron's statement relies on false narratives, undermines trust in foreign gov't

“When we hear discussion about new elections, it is, first of all, disrespectful to the Georgian people. At a minimum, they are disrespecting 1,120,000 citizens. This is a fundamental principle established after the UN was founded—that we must respect each other’s sovereignty,” stated Shalva Papuashvili, Chairman of the Georgian Parliament.

Papuashvili emphasized that discussions of new elections amount to interference in the sovereign choice of the Georgian people.

“Regarding interference, we see legitimacy crises faced by various European leaders and political forces. If they wish to discuss other countries’ governments, we can do the same. Some, like Germany, have transitional governments that have lost the trust of their people. Instead of focusing on restoring their own credibility, they interfere in the will of the Georgian people. As for President Macron’s comments about alleged Russian interference in Georgian elections—when false narratives appear in presidential talking points, the French Embassy in Georgia bears some responsibility. I find it difficult to describe such a statement about Russian interference in our elections,” Papuashvili stated.

He asserted that all must respect the decision made by the Georgian people on October 26.

“We recall Madam Salome’s response when asked for evidence—she simply said, ‘How would I have it?’ How is it possible for such a high-level false narrative to infiltrate the talking points of a president of a nuclear-armed state? This suggests either significant malice from various groups or a complete lack of professionalism.

Both points in President Macron’s statement were based on false narratives. When the French President draws conclusions based on these inaccuracies, it undermines trust in foreign governments among the Georgian people. Therefore, everyone must respect the will of the Georgian people. We did not achieve 33 years of independence through bloodshed just for various politicians from different countries to regularly interfere in our democratic process.

The Georgian people clearly expressed their will on October 26. If Europe stands for anything, it is respect for the people’s will. Everyone must respect the will of the Georgian people,” Papuashvili concluded.

French President Emmanuel Macron remarked at the annual meeting of French ambassadors: “In recent years, Russia has increased its aggression and altered the nature of this aggression towards Europeans and other parts of the world. We see this in Armenia, where Russia unexpectedly changed its alliance and became Azerbaijan’s ally solely because the Armenians opposed them, and in Georgia, through the destabilization of electoral processes and ballot stuffing.”

Later, French Ambassador to Georgia Sheraz Gasri wrote on the X Platform: “As Emmanuel Macron makes support to democracy and freedom fighters a priority of our foreign policy, he commends the courage of demonstrators and of Salome Zourabichvili in Georgia and underlined that new elections could be a way out of the political crisis.”