Economist Podcasts Off-side: Georgians reject new president
60 snips
Dec 16, 2024 
Sarah Larniuk, Senior Producer for The Economist, reports from Tbilisi amidst escalating protests against the controversial election of a new president in Georgia. She sheds light on the citizens' struggle for democratic representation against a backdrop of historical Russian influence. Tim Cross, Senior Science Writer, discusses the challenges facing NASA, especially in light of budget cuts and shifting political priorities, while also touching upon the cultural significance of the martini and its evolution over time.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Georgian Protests
- Georgia's ruling party elected a new president, a former footballer, in a Soviet-style election with only one name on the ballot.
- Thousands protested this move, marking the third week of demonstrations against the government.
Escalating Violence
- Protests in Georgia escalated with police violence, including random beatings and attacks by masked thugs.
- This violence was similar to tactics used in Ukraine during the 2014 Euromaidan protests.
Values Clash
- The Georgian protests are not solely about joining the EU but about choosing between Russian and Western values.
- Georgians are unwilling to give up on democracy and the West's economic opportunities.