Georgia is sending a clear message: its future is European. Ahead of local elections on October 4th, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has reiterated the country’s firm commitment to democracy, stability, and European Union integration.
The vote is seen as more than a routine election—it’s a test of Georgia’s democratic maturity. The ruling Georgian Dream party previously won 54% of the parliamentary vote, which is now presented as reflecting strong public support for the country’s pro-European direction.
While Georgian Dream has formally committed itself to achieving EU membership, it has also antagonised Brussels by rejecting parts of the ‘woke’ agenda. Passing pro-family legislation and restricting ‘foreign agents’ have each heightened tensions, prompting the withdrawal of EU visas for Tbilisi’s diplomats (“blackmail,” says Kobakhidze). According to the Brussels elite, Georgian voters just keep on voting the ‘wrong’ way.
All this could now be water under the bridge for Kobakhidze, whose new message to Brussels is firm: Georgia is seeking partnership, not favors.
Economically, he claims, Georgia has become one of the fastest-growing nations in its region, delivering steady GDP growth, lower inflation, rising exports and stronger public finances despite global challenges. The government stresses that these gains are the result of long-term strategy, not short-term rhetoric.
“We invite the international community to invest in Georgia,” the PM wrote, perhaps changing tune as he calls on Europe to recognize the country’s progress and reliability.
