On March 31, Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, presented her annual report to the Parliament.

During her speech, she said: "The Georgian people are fully aware that the notion of the European Union's creation favors peace rather than conflict. The EU serves peace and the development of our nation, as shown by the EU monitoring mission in Georgia, so no matter how much the ruling team tries to spread rumors about a 'second front' and blame its European allies, it will not change that fact." She emphasized that official Moscow and Tbilisi use the same language when discussing this second front. "The protection of our territory, de-occupation, bolstering of the defense forces, population security, development of the economy, and advancement of education are all impossible without close ties and cooperation with our partners," the President emphasized. "No matter how hard the ruling team tries to prove that European and national interests are at odds, it cannot escape the reality," she added.

Salome Zourabichvili attributed the government's failure to achieve EU candidate status by June 17, 2022, to its recent actions and rhetoric. The President questioned the governing Georgian Dream party, emphasizing that the people of Georgia have consistently voiced their will and choice, and now they tell what future they want and where they do not want to go. "Why can't you hear the people's strong desire?" she asked. Addressing the governing party, Zourabichvili stated, "The authorities have failed to comprehend that they are accountable to the public and have been given the mandate to implement the desire of the Georgian people. Regardless of the veracity of the claims that the opposition is obstructing Georgia's application for EU membership through 'endless boycotts' and disseminating unfavorable messages about it in Brussels and the US, she asserts that "the lion's share of responsibility still lies with the authorities." Salome Zourabichvili emphasized that no matter how hard the government tries, it cannot persuade the people that Europe is against Georgia's national interests, values, or even peace. The President emphasized that blaming others through modeled scenarios, conspiracies, conspiracy theories, and insults will not change the authorities' responsibility.

President Zourabichvili mentioned the 12 goals set forward by the European Commission about Georgia's EU candidacy and said there is nothing alien to the country in these priorities and no fear of alienation; on the contrary, they mirror Georgia's historic values. She noted other instances of Georgia's ties to Europe, including its long history of tolerance, the historical monuments of Georgian law, and the heritage of women's emancipation.

Salome Zourabichvili reminded the ruling team where they were yesterday when they started carrying out the people's mandate and where they are today after deviating from the people's desire and the mandate they were given. "Now you are the administration that has slowly started to metamorphosis," Salome Zourabichvili stated to the governing majority as she recalled several excellent actions made during the first stage of the Georgian Dream coming to power. Salome Zourabichvili criticized the Georgian Dream for failing to terminate the protracted vicious circle that served to consolidate power and involved the same persons at a time when the crucially important reform of the judiciary had reached a dead end. In this regard, the President stated that the Georgian Dream started losing supporters with different viewpoints and political preferences. She warned the Georgian Dream members, "Among you, even a slightly divergent perspective is no longer heard because it inevitably entails quitting the mandate." She also emphasized indications of the ruling party's expanding power over the executive and legislative branches, claiming that the party has morphed into a decision-making space. "The decision-making process has become opaque, leave alone open discussion, and most crucially, the party leader reveals in advance his view on all political problems," the official added. Zourabichvili cited the entry of Russian Communist MP Sergei Gavrilov in Georgia in 2019 as an example of how the administration has taken incomprehensible moves in recent years that went against the country's foreign aim and the people's mandate. She claimed that the first uncertainties and questions regarding Georgia began to surface at that point.

Read also:

Georgian President Addresses Democracy Issues in Georgia

Georgian President on EU Candidate Status and Georgian Politics

Salome Zourabichvili Condemns Georgian Government for Its Position on Russo-Ukrainian War