“In an era of uncertainty, the voice of national parliaments must not fade, it must rise”, - the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, H.E. Shalva Papuashvili underlined in his address at the IPU General Assembly.

As the Speaker noted, the most fundamental issue—the national interest—remains unchanged.

According to him, any system that attempts to override the national interest will ultimately collapse, as that which is not rooted in the people cannot endure for long.

“We are not observers of history. We are its authors. It is in our chambers that the sovereign will of nations takes shape. It is through us that the people speak - clearly, legitimately, and decisively. And it is our duty to ensure that this voice is never diluted, never overshadowed, and never replaced.

We hear it often said that the global order is weakening. Perhaps it is. But one foundation remains unshaken: national interest.

This is the only true compass of foreign policy. Not abstract doctrines. Not imposed ideologies. Not artificial systems of values detached from the will of the people. Any system that seeks to override national interest will ultimately collapse. Because what is not rooted in the people cannot endure.

True international cooperation is not built on illusion. It is built on reality. And reality is simple: nations act in their interests. When those interests are expressed through democratic will, cooperation becomes stronger, peace more durable and order more stable.

Today, we face a defining challenge: foreign interference.

In an age of information warfare and invisible influence, sovereignty is no longer defended only at borders, it is defended within our institutions and societies. Protecting the integrity of our political systems is no longer optional, it is essential.

This is why nations are acting.

This is why we see the emergence of legislative frameworks across the world: The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in the United States, the Democracy Shield in the European Union, the Foreign Interference Law in France, the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) in the United Kingdom, or the Foreign Influence Transparency Law in Georgia. Though they differ in name, we see the same principle taking legal form: democracy must be shaped by the people, not by foreign power", - he stated.