Georgian Parliament Speaker on Macron’s remarks: those who meddle in others’ affairs must be ready for reciprocity

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said France was experiencing the consequences of its own actions, arguing that countries that interfere in the internal affairs of others should expect similar treatment in return.

Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks that the United States should not dictate what laws Europeans and the French adopt, Papuashvili said France had repeatedly interfered in Georgia's domestic affairs and criticised Georgian legislation.

“France reaps what it sows. When you interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and France interferes in Georgia’s internal affairs, when you allow yourself to criticize the details of Georgia’s legislation, then of course you should be prepared to be treated the same way”, he said.

“So if they are now feeling this attitude themselves, they should blame no one but themselves”, he added.

According to the Parliament Speaker, such developments are part of a broader erosion of the rules-based international order and respect for national sovereignty.

“This is also part of the violation of the rules-based international order, when everyone interferes in everyone else’s affairs. In Georgia, it has become difficult to distinguish who is an ambassador and who is an opposition politician. Everyone seems to think they have a say in Georgia’s legislation and state decisions”, Papuashvili said.

He argued that those who criticize Georgia’s sovereignty have themselves undermined the international principles they claim to uphold.

“They themselves violated the international order based on respect for the sovereignty of other countries and failed to respect Georgia’s sovereignty. As a result, they have received disrespect toward their own sovereignty. This is the lesson, and I hope they learn something from it”, Papuashvili concluded.