How Georgia's pro-Russian ruling party aims to break ties with the West and reconcile with Russia

Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, which has been losing popularity, has presented citizens with four reasons to support the party in its quest to secure a constitutional majority in parliament ahead of the elections.

They promise to amend the constitution to allow for the formal reunification with the occupied territories. If this happens, it will likely be under terms acceptable to Russia.

Read more about how Georgia's ruling party is trying to strengthen its grip on power at any cost and sever ties with the West in the article by Yurii Panchenko, a European Pravda editor – Four steps to breaking with the West: How Georgia's government plans to 'Legalise' its friendship with Russia.

Georgian Dream, once again urging citizens to vote for them in the October elections, has presented four reasons why they need a constitutional majority.

First and foremost (an old fixation of the current Georgian government), a constitutional majority is necessary for the "qualitative improvement of the political system." This refers to the banning of the main opposition party, the United National Movement, and potentially others.

This plan at the very least indicates that even after the elections, the ruling party does not plan to seek understanding with the West, banning the majority (or several key) opposition parties would undoubtedly be a red line for the EU and the US.

Another red line is the adoption of the already announced by Georgian Dream bills on "combating LGBT propaganda." The ruling party announced such changes earlier this year, stating that a nationwide discussion was needed to "protect society from pseudo-liberal ideology."

While this initially seemed like a pre-election manipulation by the Georgian government, it now appears that the authorities in Tbilisi intend to push this ban through, thus completely burying any possibility of understanding with the West.

The ruling party officially avoids talking about breaking ties with the West or abandoning the course toward EU and NATO membership.

However, another point in the "Georgian Dream" statement seems even more sensational.

It refers to the need to amend the constitution "in the event of the peaceful restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity."

The Georgian Dream statement mentions that "events around Georgia are developing very dynamically," and therefore, "at any moment," the country should be ready for the possibility of restoring territorial integrity.

This part of the Georgian Dream election promises aligns with longstanding rumours circulating in the country about an alleged agreement between Tbilisi and the Kremlin for returning the occupied territories.

According to this hypothesis, the restoration of territorial integrity is supposed to serve as "compensation" for Georgia in exchange for its final abandonment of a pro-Western course. The reunification is allegedly supposed to take place within the framework of a confederation.

This would allow Russia not only to maintain full control over the occupied territories but also to increase its influence over Tbilisi.

Finally, one constitutional reform that Georgian Dream intends to implement remains undisclosed.

But implementing these plans is only possible if they secure a constitutional majority.

A notable aspect of these elections is that, for the first time, they will be held according to a proportional order. Therefore, it is highly doubtful that Georgian Dream can obtain the desired constitutional majority in case of fair and transparent elections.

But Georgian Dream no longer feels the need to conduct even relatively fair elections...