OSCE on Georgia’s elections: “Strongly competitive and well-run”
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The October 8 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia were competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected, says the OSCE.
International observers monitoring yesterday’s elections in Georgia presented their preliminary post-election assessment at a Tbilisi news conference this afternoon.
Strongly competitive and well-run, yesterday’s elections offered an opportunity for voters to make informed choices about their options in a pluralistic but polarised media environment,” said Ignacio Sanchez Amor, the special coordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission.
The unacceptable isolated incidents of violence we’ve seen had an impact but, thankfully, did not undermine an otherwise positive election,” he added.
The observing mission was a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) and European Parliament (EP).
Assessment from NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Paolo Alli, head of the NATO PA delegation said there were "some shortcomings” in the campaign environment but he added:
"The big picture however is clear: Georgia has reaffirmed its status as the leader of democratic transformation in this region.”
"The conduct of this election is greatly encouraging for all those who support Georgia on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.”
Comments from OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
"As election observers, we hoped for calm, uneventful elections in which voters focus on the results rather than the process. In many respects, the elections have lived up to our expectations, with voters focusing primarily on the country’s future and getting there through competitive elections,” said Guglielmo Picchi, head of the OSCE PA delegation.
"We call for responsible behavior as the country moves forward with the second round of the elections.”
What did PACE say?
"Yesterday’s Parliamentary Eections were competitive,” said Emanuelis Zingeris, head of the PACE delegation.
Nevertheless during the pre-election period there was unacceptable behaviour directed towards candidates and voters.”
Zingeris said that such behaviour should never happen.
He also stressed there was a "substantial imbalance” in the funding parties were able to raise, leading to "unequal opportunities”.
"Before drawing final conclusions on the electoral process, the PACE delegation will closely follow the electoral period leading to the second round, and will wait for the results of that round in a number of majoritarian districts,” he said.
Performance of the Central Election Commission
The international observers said the election administration worked "in a timely and professional manner”, and there was "a high level of confidence in the Central Election Commission among electoral stakeholders”.
"Our long-term observation showed that fundamental rights were respected during a competitive campaign and that the election administration earned the trust and confidence of electoral stakeholders,” said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, head of the OSCE/ODIHR long-term election observation mission.
Further steps should and can be made to address remaining challenges, both in laws and in practice.”
He added there was increased trust and confidence in the accuracy of the voter lists among election stakeholders, and election commissions gave voters ample opportunity to verify their information.
Read more on the international observers conclusions in their preliminary statement released today.
International Republican Institute (IRI) says yesterday's Parliamentary Elections in Georgia was carried out in peaceful environment and reflected the will of the Georgian voters.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has counted 82.55 percent of all votes countrywide. For the majoritarian results, it is believed a second round of vote will be needed at 50 of 73 districts countrywide.
International observers are positively assessing Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections, saying it was "free” and "fair”.
The election environment in Georgia, throughout the pre-election campaign and on Election Day itself, was generally peaceful and constructive, says the country's President Giorgi Margvelashvili.
Following a vibrant and competitive campaign, citizens of Georgia were able to cast their votes freely and, in most places, vote counting happened in a calm and orderly manner, says a leading international observer mission.
"Every second person voted for Georgian Dream and our governance will continue ruling the country with high legitimacy," says Irakli Kobakhidze, Executive Secretary of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party.
Third party 0.01% away from threshold for entering Parliament
Georgia’s Central Election Commission has counted 99.41 percent of all votes countrywide. Latest preliminary results showed two leading parties, but a third party is only 0.01% away from overcoming the five percent threshold for entering Parliament.
Two European Union (EU) top officials say the 2016 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia were "competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected”.
"We believe the results of the elections are falsified,” says leader of opposition party United National Movement (UNM) Nika Melia.
"The UK aligns itself with the assessment of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights – and other international monitoring missions – that these elections were competitive, well-administered and generally respectful of the fundamental rights of the people of Georgia,” read the official statement of Sir Alan Duncan today.
United States (US) Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly agrees with international observers and says Saturday’s Parliamentary Elections in Georgia were "competitive and well-administrated”.
More of the international community is positively assessing Saturday’s Parliamentary Elections in Georgia. Latest affirming statements came from Sweden and Lithuania.
"The Government of Spain welcomes the smooth manner in which the legislative elections held on Saturday, 8 October, unfolded in Georgia,” stated the country’s Foreign Ministry today.
Today Prime Minister of Georgia met the Ambassadors of the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) to Georgia to discuss the October 8 Parliamentary Elections.
The European Union (EU) welcomed the October 8 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia, saying they held in a "generally peaceful and orderly way.”
For the first time since Russia-Georgia war in August 2008, the OSCE Group of Friends of Georgia has adopted a declaration on the conflict supporting Georgia's territorial integrity.
Chairperson of the Georgian Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) Sofio Katsarava met with OSCE PA President Christine Muttonen in Vienna, Austria today.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Co-Operation and Security in Europe (OSCE PA) has passed a resolution titled "10 years after the August War”, initiated by Georgian lawmaker Sophio Katsarava with an overwhelming majority "despite Russia’s resistance at all stages,” the parliament of Georgia reports.
Georgian opposition lawmaker Gigi Tsereteli has been elected head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE PA) today with a term of one year by secret ballot.