MEPs of the EU parliament: 'elections were competitive, freedoms were respected'
Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on October 31. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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MEPs on EU-Georgia relations from the European Parliament have congratulated Georgia, 'a key ally of the EU', on 'successfully' organising the first round of the parliamentary elections held on October 31 in Georgia despite ‘the difficult epidemiological context'.
We take note that these elections were found to be competitive and freedoms were respected overall, despite deplorable cases of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the State throughout the campaign and on election day", read the joint statement released by the MEPs.
David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee posted on Twitter:
We would like to congratulate ???????? Georgia, a key ally of the ???????? EU, on successfully organising the first round of the parliamentary elections despite a difficult epidemiological context. https://t.co/gLAqWJvh0d
— davidmcallister (@davidmcallister) November 1, 2020
The statement reads that candidates were able to campaign freely, 'giving voters a genuine choice between a variety of platforms'. Also, the MEPs said that the media and political landscapes are still highly polarised, which was consequently reflected by 'harsh rhetoric on all sides, albeit to a lesser extent than in the run-up to the 2018 presidential election, which is a positive development'.
Marina Kaljurand (S&D, Estonia), Chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the South Caucasus posted on Twitter:
We would like to congratulate Georgia, a key ally of the EU, on successfully organising the first round of the parliamentary elections despite a difficult epidemiological context. @davidmcallister https://t.co/UhlfhbSsoN
— Marina Kaljurand MEP (@MarinaKaljurand) November 1, 2020
The MEPs said they appreciate that 'pragmatic solutions' were found to allow quarantined and self-isolated citizens to cast their ballots in special polling stations, 'which was a fair compromise between democratic and public health requirements'.
We very much deplore that citizens in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia were once again deprived of their right to vote", reads the statement.
Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (The Greens/EFA, Germany), the European Parliament’s lead member for democracy support activities in Georgia posted on Twitter:
????????Closely following #Georgia Elections. While competitive and generally free, regrettable to see cases of pressuring voters. Unequal access to administrative & particularly financial resources undermines democracy. Parties should remain calm & peaceful. ????????EU stands with ????????People!
— Viola von Cramon (@ViolavonCramon) November 1, 2020
Ahead of a second round of voting in several constituencies, the MEPs call for calm.
All possible appeals and complaints, substantiated with necessary details and some element of proof, should be handled in a fair, transparent and rigorous manner", reads the statement.
The statement also reads that the European Parliament will remain attentive to further developments during the rest of the electoral period, including on the day of the second round.
"We look forward to further cooperating with the newly elected parliament on Georgia’s chosen Euro-Atlantic integration path”, reads the statement.
Georgia's foreign minister David Zalkaliani expressed gratitude to the country's international partners for sending their observers for the parliamentary elections held on Saturday and pointed out their support for "further consolidation of democracy in Georgia".
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has reacted to the October 31 parliamentary elections in Georgia by welcoming the reforms that enabled the country to conduct the vote 'smoothly' and acknowledging international observers' conclusions on competitive process, but also pointing out 'irregularities and incidents'.
Unanimous in their demands for repeat elections, the parties which have overcame the mandatory 1% threshold, including the United National Movement, Euroepan Georgia, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Lelo for Georgia, Labour Party and Girchi, accuse the CEC of falsifying elections on behalf of the ruling party.
A number of foreign dignitaries have assessed Georgia's parliamentary elections of October 31, which were held against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said his country is ready to continue supporting Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has counted all votes cast in Saturday’s parliamentary elections. Nine parties have crossed the one per cent threshold to make it into the 150-member parliament per the proportional electoral system (120 seats in the legislative body). In the majoritarian elections the ruling Georgian Dream candidates has won 14 of 30 majoritarian constituences. A run-off will be held in 16 majoritarian constituencies on November 21, where the ruling Georgian Dream candidates won the race in 15 (of 16) constituencies, however, they were unable to receive at least 51% of total votes.
The spokesperson of the EU External Action Service has released a statement on the first round of the 2020 parliamentary elections held in Georgia on October 31 'under a revised electoral system and with high voter turnout, despite the challenging context of the Covid-19 pandemic'.
The European Georgia opposition party, which has received five mandates in the 150-member parliament, has refused to have its MPs take up their mandates in parliament and participate in the election run-off on November 21 in several majoritarian constituencies.
Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State Cale Brown has tweeted that ‘we share OSCE’s assessments’ that Georgian parliamentary elections ‘competitive and fundamental freedoms were respected.’ Most of the Georgian opposition parties claim that the elections were fabricated and have plans to take to the streets on November 8 and demand repeat elections. The ruling Georgian Dream party says that the opposition has failed to accept the election results in a dignified manner.
Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, calls on all political parties and candidates to participate in the second round of the November 21 parliamentary elections and take up their mandates ‘in order to honour the democratically expressed will of Georgian citizens’.
The European Parliament calls on the European Union to continue supporting the two Eastern Partnership countries, Ukraine and Georgia, and to promote European reforms and fundamental freedoms in the region.