Georgia will hold parliamentary elections in 2024. This will involve a fundamental decision for the South Caucasus country: would Georgia move towards Russia politically or would it once again strengthen its relations with Europe.
For student Lana F., there is a lot at stake in the next elections: “I worry that we will become a Hungary like Orbán”. And that would be the “best option”, she describes controversially. The only thing that would be even worse would be a closer relationship between the government and Russia, says the 24-year-old politics student.
Employee rights are becoming more visible
In her student job, as a waitress in a modern restaurant in the old town of Tbilisi, she feels every day how important it is for a young person to know and demand their labor rights. These are demands that unions around the world defend: better working conditions, fair wages, fair redistribution. “The union’s work is important in Georgia, where there is a need for education about workers’ rights, and it goes hand in hand with our European orientation,” says Lana F.
Young people have a say
Lana F.’s example shows that young Georgians, in particular, want more Europe. According to a recent survey by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, 62 percent of young people in Georgia believe the country belongs to Europe. In early 2023, there were mass protests lasting days, especially by thousands of young people, who condemned the government’s favorable attitude towards Russia.
Since then, the country has been faced with a democratic decision that will also influence the evolving climate around workers’ rights. For Lana F. it’s clear: “Without us young people, it won’t work. We will have a say in Georgia’s European future.”