The European Union is sowing doubt about the election outcome in Georgia, partaking in election denialism, and eroding trust in democracy through conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived in the country to thank the Georgians for voting in an anti-war conservative party.
The Hungarian prime minister said at the press conference on Tuesday held in Tbilisi, alongside victorious incumbent Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidzeon of the Georgian Dream party, that no one dares to question that the elections in Georgia were free and democratic, pointing to OSCE election monitors, who noted the election went normally and without serious incident.
“I congratulate the prime minister on his election victory. I look at the debate that has erupted around the election, I read the evaluations of international organizations, and I see that nobody dares to question that this election was a free and democratic choice. With all the critical comments, no one dares to go so far, and they do it well,” said Orbán.
However, he also noted certain elements in the EU are sowing doubt about the election because the “wrong party” won.
“If the liberals had won here in Georgia, it would be the news everywhere in Western Europe today that your democracy is in top shape. But in the same election, the conservatives won, so debates are expected in the international press, which is the case after elections in Hungary or in any other country. These do not need to be taken seriously,” said Orbán.
While EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did not raise the issue of fraud directly, in a post on X she raised doubts about the outcome, stating that the people of Georgia “have a right to know what happened this weekend. A right to see that irregularities are investigated swiftly, transparently, independently.”
Orbán said that he did not want to come to Georgia during the campaign, because it would have seemed as if he would be interfering in the decision of the local people, so he preferred to wait for the results of the election. He noted that the two peoples have a mutually positive image of each other, which may be due to history:
“You are a nation of freedom fighters, we are also one, we are surrounded by great powers, you too, we always had to fight for sovereignty and freedom, this historical fact probably created the positive prejudice with which the two peoples view each other today.”
Orbán also noted that both countries neighbor Ukraine, so he knows what war is like, and he is also aware of the value of peace. Notably, Georgian Dream campaigned on a pro-peace message, telling Georgian voters it intends to stay out of the war in Ukraine, a popular position with Georgians.
“Hungary is a pro-peace country in Europe, and we greatly appreciate your efforts that you are also on the side of peace. No one wants to destroy their own country and drag it into a senseless war, so we understand the decision of the people of Georgia who voted for peace, and so do we,” said Orbán.
He also said that Hungary is willing to give Georgia all the support it needs to join the European Union as the most prepared member candidate by the end of the decade. He added that they have already delegated Hungarian experts to Tbilisi, and they are happy to welcome Georgian experts in Hungary for a training program.
Viktor Orbán emphasized at the press conference that they agreed to develop their cooperation in strategic areas. An agreement was recently reached on the protection of investments, and Hungary is also willing to participate in infrastructure development in Georgia. He also mentioned the plan to deliver the green electricity produced in the Caucasus to the European Union.
