MEP: Georgia's GD to be Rewarded Electorally for Crisis Management
"Crises are always tough on governments. The governing party is in charge, and so bears the blame (and the brunt of public anger) when things go wrong, even when the causes are far outside of its control. Opposition parties, meanwhile, can offer criticism without responsibility and generally benefit at the ballot box as a result," reads the article by Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament Dace Melbarde, published by New Europe.
"COVID-19 is no different. The unprecedented public health threat of a virus with no cure and no vaccine leaves governments with no guaranteed method to protect their citizens, and no identifiable foe to provide a national rallying point (as with terrorism, or war, for example).
"Around the world, incumbent governments are feeling the force of public frustration, as death tolls mount and economic impacts become more pronounced. President Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, and Pedro Sanchez have all seen approval ratings fall. Even countries who previously appeared to be successful – such as Sweden – are now seeing big drops in popularity for the incumbent government as public frustration boils over."
The MEP points out that elections, in these circumstances, are greatly feared by incumbent governments. However, she notes this is not a universal problem.
"Rare democratic examples demonstrate the reverse impact: where governments benefit electorally from the crisis, thanks to the successful handling of the pandemic and an associated surge in popularity. The two most prominent examples today are South Korea and Georgia," the author notes.
The publication further reads that in the recent Parliamentary elections in South Korea, the governing Democratic Party significantly strengthened its position. The opposition was simply unable to cut-through with any criticism – or alternative vision for the country – due to near-universal agreement domestically and internationally that the government of President Moon Jae-In had expertly handled the virus.
"This success is likely to be replicated 6,000km away in Georgia, another country where the government has received worldwide praise for its handling of the pandemic. 17 deaths to date in Georgia puts the country, along with South Korea, in the top tier in terms of containing the virus. Parliamentary elections are due in October this year, and the most recent polling shows the governing Georgian Dream party on 55% of the vote, comfortably enough to retain a majority of Parliamentary seats, and a substantial increase on pre-COVID-19 polling levels. As in Seoul, the public appears to be ready to reward the government for its competence in handling the public health crisis.
"In one particular element, the situation in Georgia is even more intriguing. The October elections will be the first contested under a new electoral system, following a major reform agreed by government and opposition in March this year. On June 29, the Georgian Parliament, despite the opposition’s boycott, passed constitutional amendments paving the way for the electoral reform to be implemented. The agreement was facilitated by the US State Department and the European Union and is aimed to entrench proportional democracy in Georgia for the long-term. It is unusual enough – as in South Korea – to find an opposition that loses an election in the current climate… but here we have an opposition that is so worried it is trying to block an election altogether! Whether this political gamesmanship will succeed remains to be seen," reads the article.
The author notes that the governing party in Georgia has had a good crisis and will be rewarded electorally.
"After Georgia, all eyes will turn to the US election in November. Messrs Johnson and Macron have longer to wait, and will likely face their voters in a more comfortable, post-COVID-19 world," she concludes.
By Ana Dumbadze
Source: New Europe
Image credit: EPA-EFE//JEON HEON-KYUN