Georgian Parliament Speaker: Brussels should show it stands by European values, not political intrigues

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday described the ongoing local elections as a critical test for Brussels, questioning whether European institutions would uphold true democratic principles or resort to political manipulation, while vowing to combat extremism through legal measures.

In his remarks, Papuashvili emphasised the Georgian people's will as the ultimate arbiter and announced efforts to legally address extremist parties, underscoring the need for robust defences against threats to democracy.

“Of course, extremists will not be helped by anything. They are enemies of democracy. That is why we are working on a constitutional lawsuit regarding the recognition of extremist parties as unconstitutional. We cannot counter extremism with sweet words. It is necessary to use the legislative tools that every country uses to fight extremism. An extremist organisation was recently banned in Germany, and one party was banned in Moldova”, the Speaker said.

“The state takes care of its democracy. Democracy must protect itself from the enemies of democracy. Extremists will face nothing but legal consequences. Those who had false hopes that Georgia would become a puppet state will see today, through the actions of Georgia’s citizens, where the will of the Georgian people lies”, he continued.

The Speaker framed Georgia's elections as a defining moment for European credibility, accusing certain Brussels representatives of past attempts to impose puppet governance on the country.

“For Brussels, this will be another litmus test - whether they are loyal to true European values, which imply popular legitimacy, or whether they will engage in the political intrigue we saw last year after the elections, when some in Brussels wanted to see their puppet representatives in Georgia’s Government”, Papuashvili noted.

He criticised last year's pre-election interference by some European ambassadors and politicians, who tried to fabricate outcomes after electoral defeats, and called on Europe to prove it embodies 21st-century democratic ideals over outdated colonial tactics.

“Last year, before the parliamentary elections, some ambassadors from European countries were directly involved in the election campaign, and when they lost the elections, those ambassadors and foreign politicians tried to create a false reality. This is a chance for them to show the Georgian people whether we are dealing with 21st-century Europe or Europe from a hundred years ago. Let them show that democracy is a value and not empty words”, Papuashvili concluded.