“On 30th October, Georgians returned to the polls in the second round of local elections 2021. The European Union congratulates the voters, electoral staff and local monitors for their commitment and efforts during the COVID-19 epidemic. “We warmly welcome the International Election Observation Mission conducted by the OSCE ODIHR, the European Parliament and also for this second stage,” reads the EU Ambassador’s statement in coordination with EU Heads Mission.
“After the first round we said that the reported malpractices in Georgia must not become the norm. We regret that these elections were a missed chance in this regard. Despite the clear assessment of international observers, no meaningful steps were taken to address key deficiencies. In fact, new shortcomings have been revealed, namely the misuse of administrative resources by Georgian political leaders and their violent rhetoric, which has further exacerbated an already intense political polarisation. The suggestion made before the elections that the central governments would not work with local councils if they swung towards another majority is concerning, as it aims to limit the electorate’s choices and limit pluralism.
“We urge all parties to remain engaged in the electoral processes.” The public’s trust in the integrity of the electoral process requires a fair adjudication and a credible, transparent and inclusive recounting process. In this regard, both the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the courts will have a major responsibility in the coming days.
“We expect genuine efforts to be made by Georgian leaders to create a climate that is conducive to meeting citizens’ expectations.” This includes fulfilling repeated promises on meaningful reforms, particularly in the judiciary, and resuming implementation of our EU-Georgia Agenda, based upon the values of democracy. respect for human rights, and upholding rule of law, according to the statement.
According to the results of the mayoral election, the ruling party won 63 districts out of 64 cities, municipalities and districts, while UNM won only Tsalenjikha. The opposition does not accept the results of the local elections because they believe the Georgian Dream manipulated them. In the coming weeks, Georgians will be holding rallies to express their disapproval and distrust.
By Ana Dumbadze
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