Good morning from Tbilisi, European Union hopeful Georgia’s parliamentary elections on Saturday saw the pro-Russia ruling Georgian Dream party claim victory amid strong accusations by the opposition and international observers of “significant irregularities” in the polls. The vote was described as decisive for the country’s EU path and key for Europe’s influence in the region. Georgia’s four opposition parties – which rejected the results and are considering boycotting the new parliament – have urged the EU to take measures. Mass protests are expected on Monday evening, with fears of a large-scale crackdown by the ruling party. From Tbilisi, Euractiv’s Alexandra Brzozowski reports that the victory of the Georgian Dream could turn into a Georgian 'nightmare' for Brussels. Several EU member states condemned the outcome, the EU Parliament election observers said the elections were “neither free nor fair”, while EU chief Charles Michel said EU leaders would discuss the bloc’s next steps in early November. See here what options could be on the table. But for Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán – who was first to congratulate the ruling Georgian Dream party – it’s business as usual, and he is set to take a diplomatic trip to Tbilisi this evening. Budapest currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, but Orbán has no EU mandate for this visit, just as was the case in his “peace missions” to China, the US (to meet Trump) and Russia. The visit comes just days before a crucial vote in the US, where Orbán wishes for Trump’s return to power. | 