Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán landed in Georgia on Sunday, extending congratulations to the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party for its “overwhelming victory” in the recent parliamentary elections. This congratulatory gesture, however, arrives amid serious concerns about voter intimidation and alleged electoral irregularities. Orbán’s two-day visit, accompanied by high-ranking Hungarian officials, is poised to strain relations within the European Union, which Hungary currently presides over in a rotating capacity.
Orbán’s visit to Georgia follows the controversial parliamentary elections held on Saturday, where GD claimed a decisive victory with 54% of the vote according to the Georgian Central Election Commission. However, this figure starkly contrasts exit polls from independent observers, which indicated the opposition held a majority of seats. Critics, including Georgia’s pro-European president Salome Zourabichvili, argue that GD’s victory marks a blow to democratic governance and EU membership aspirations, alleging the election results reflect outside influence rather than domestic support.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, clarified on Monday that Orbán “does not represent the European Union” on his visit to Georgia, emphasizing that the rotating EU presidency does not extend authority over foreign policy decisions. Borrell’s comments reflect increasing frustration within the EU regarding Orbán’s autonomous diplomatic approach, particularly in light of Hungary’s past tendencies to sidestep or outright oppose mainstream EU policies, including a reluctance to support Ukraine amidst Russia’s continued military presence in the region.
In an official statement co-signed with the European Commission, Borrell highlighted widespread reports of voter intimidation and coercion in Georgia’s recent elections, urging authorities to address the alleged irregularities. “We call on the central election commission of Georgia and other relevant authorities to fulfil their duty to swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof,” the statement reads. Observers from the European Parliament, including Spanish MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White, reported instances of ballot box stuffing, intimidation, and the physical removal of election monitors from polling stations.
- Ballot Box Tampering: Observers documented at least one instance of ballot box stuffing.
- Assault on Observers: Monitors attempting to document violations reportedly faced physical aggression.
- Intimidation of Voters: There were accounts of individuals pressured to vote in the presence of affiliated party members masquerading as citizen observers.
- Misuse of State Resources: Reports indicated GD-affiliated state employees were pressured to participate in campaign activities.
These allegations have cast doubt over the legitimacy of the elections and raised questions about GD’s influence on the electoral process.
The implications of GD’s contested victory and Orbán’s endorsement of it have sparked reactions across the EU. Dutch MEP Thijs Reuten voiced his concern on social media, calling for the EU’s 26 other member states and the European Commission to counteract Orbán’s perceived legitimization of Georgia’s disputed elections. “Orbán legitimising these elections undermines the EU itself,” Reuten said, echoing calls from other EU officials for swift and transparent investigations into the reported irregularities.
Western leaders, though restrained in their rhetoric, continue to call on Georgia’s election authorities to address the European Parliament delegation’s findings. The former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt was among the outspoken critics, tweeting, “As Georgia is channelled towards Moscow with Kremlin interference, Viktor Orbán flies to Tbilisi to endorse a corrupted election.” Verhofstadt’s remarks underscore concerns that Georgia, once an aspiring EU member, risks aligning more closely with Russia—a scenario that could destabilize the region and threaten European integration efforts.
Orbán’s visit to Tbilisi, at the invitation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, marks yet another chapter in his maverick approach to diplomacy, which has drawn ire from EU leaders and citizens alike. Joining him on the trip are key figures from Hungary’s government, including Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Economy Minister Márton Nagy, and Finance Minister Mihály Varga. While the Hungarian delegation’s agenda emphasizes economic cooperation and security issues, Orbán’s endorsement of GD raises questions about the motives behind Hungary’s growing alignment with Georgia.
This diplomatic move follows Orbán’s contentious visits to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate earlier this year, where he controversially positioned Hungary as a “peace mediator” amid Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. These foreign visits highlight Orbán’s increasingly independent diplomatic trajectory, at times appearing to diverge from EU objectives.
Hungary and Georgia have drawn closer in recent years, finding common ground in their focus on conservative “Christian” values and shared calls for “peace” in Ukraine without explicit condemnation of Russia. This stance stands in stark contrast to the EU’s robust support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, positioning Hungary and Georgia as outliers within the broader European community.
For Orbán, this alignment with Georgia is part of a broader strategy to bolster Hungary’s alliances outside the EU’s liberal democratic mainstream. Hungary’s domestic policy direction and foreign engagements reflect a pivot towards more conservative social policies and stronger bilateral relationships with states sharing similar ideologies. Critics argue that this approach undermines the EU’s cohesiveness, with Hungary’s increasing support for Georgian Dream’s contentious leadership exemplifying these tensions.
While Orbán and Kobakhidze discuss economic cooperation, thousands of Georgians are expected to join opposition-led protests in Tbilisi, challenging the election results. The opposition, buoyed by exit polls showing its majority support, has cast doubt on GD’s official victory, which, according to President Zourabichvili, is part of a broader “Russian special operation.” Zourabichvili’s remarks reflect a significant rift within Georgian society and government, with the pro-European president directly opposing GD’s leadership and questioning the legitimacy of their rule.
This public outcry signals a critical juncture for Georgia, where aspirations of EU membership hang in the balance. As Zourabichvili questions GD’s electoral legitimacy, the pro-European segment of Georgian society continues to push for closer ties with the EU, a stance at odds with GD’s alleged pivot towards Russia.
With Georgia’s EU membership hopes teetering, European Council President Charles Michel has announced that the situation in Georgia will feature on the agenda of the upcoming EU summit, set to take place in Budapest next week. Michel’s statement on social media emphasized the need for clarity regarding the alleged irregularities, urging Georgia’s leadership to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to the country’s EU aspirations.
“The Georgian leadership must act decisively to ensure the integrity of the electoral process,” Michel wrote, underscoring the EU’s insistence that Georgia address the reported irregularities. The inclusion of Georgia on the EU summit agenda highlights the gravity of the situation and reflects a growing consensus within the EU that stronger action may be necessary to address the democratic backsliding.
The Hungarian prime minister’s backing of Georgia’s ruling party amid allegations of electoral fraud has stirred discussions within the European Parliament about sanctions. Hungary has faced scrutiny since 2018, when the European Parliament initiated a sanctions procedure against Orbán’s government, potentially stripping Hungary of its EU voting rights due to concerns over rule-of-law issues. Though this process has yet to conclude, Orbán’s ongoing actions in foreign policy and domestic governance continue to add fuel to the EU’s internal debate over the consequences of Hungary’s dissent from EU norms.
For many EU leaders, Orbán’s actions symbolize a fundamental challenge to the principles underpinning the European project. Should Orbán continue to champion alliances with governments accused of undermining democratic norms, his position within the EU may grow increasingly tenuous.
