Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, stated that the upcoming parliamentary elections must be free and fair, as a country that cannot hold such elections cannot become a member of the European Union.
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The diplomat emphasized the importance of informing voters and noted that it is unhealthy for elections to focus solely on topics like war and peace, as well as the dichotomy between Georgians and "foreign agents."
"I spoke with a Georgian politician who explained what the healthcare policy would look like if he came to power, and I appreciated it because this is the first time I've heard a politician address specific issues in Georgia. I asked him if healthcare policy would be a major focus in this election, and he said no. The primary concern will be identifying who is Russian and who is European. In my opinion, this is not a healthy approach. In Germany, we discuss a variety of topics - jobs, healthcare, and so on. Here, the conversation centers on war and peace, and even worse, on the concept of Georgian and foreign agents, which is neither good nor healthy.
Unfortunately, populist trends are prevalent in today's world, and the goal of populism is to simplify complex issues, presenting them as a choice between black and white. We cannot address societal problems in this manner; there are no simple solutions.
When I go to the polls in Germany, I do not expect the government I elect to reveal the path to truth or create a paradise. I want them to govern the state sensibly for at least four years. So now everything is in your hands. Voting is a superpower that you must use," said Peter Fisher.
The German diplomat was also asked about the election banners of Georgian Dream, which feature images of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure destroyed by Russia for the party's propaganda. According to Fisher, the issues that concern the citizens of Georgia are complex and encompass more than just "war or peace."
Parliamentary elections will be held on October 26, conducted fully proportionally and under a 5% threshold.
