**EU Warns Georgia on Authoritarian Path**
A new report from the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has sounded a dire warning to the Georgian government. The committee, made up of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament), has said that last year’s rigged parliamentary elections in Georgia marked a clear turning point towards an authoritarian government in the EU candidate country.
The report, which was adopted with 55 votes in favor and 14 against, with 4 abstentions, says that the flawed vote allowed the ruling Georgian Dream party to take control of state institutions and crack down on opposition. The committee has called for new parliamentary elections to be held under international and independent domestic monitoring.
**Democratic Backsliding**
MEPs have expressed deep concern over Georgia’s democratic backsliding and the increasingly repressive legislative environment. They have called for an immediate audit of the EU’s policy towards Georgia and for the European Commission to review the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
The report also highlights the restrictive media environment in Georgia, where attacks on opposition parties are becoming more frequent. Leaders of Georgian Dream have even suggested declaring opposition parties unconstitutional.
**Supporting the Georgian People**
MEPs have reiterated their solidarity with the Georgian people and their legitimate pro-European aspirations. They see the upcoming municipal elections in 2025 as another test of Georgia’s democracy and political pluralism. The committee has called on the opposition to seize this opportunity to demonstrate unity and support for democracy.
**Strong Action Needed**
Rapporteur Rasa Juknevičienė (EPP, Lithuania) has urged the EU and its member states to take strong action before it is too late. “We owe it to the brave Georgians fighting for a free and pro-European future,” she said.
The report will now be submitted to a vote in the European Parliament during an upcoming plenary session. The EU’s next move will be closely watched, as Georgia’s democratic trajectory hangs in the balance.
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