NDI’s final report: Georgia ensured open political environment, competitive Parliamentary Elections

Today the United States National Democratic Institute (NDI) released its final report on last month’s Parliamentary Elections in Georgia, stressing the race was conducted in a free and fair, competitive environment. 

  Georgia’s October Parliamentary Elections were characterised by an open political environment, a competitive campaign [and the] overall results were validated by credible observers,” the report said. 

NDI highlighted political parties and candidates were able to access the ballot "without facing unreasonable restrictions or discrimination" and the public were able to cast a vote that reflected their free will.

  [Parties] were able to campaign throughout the country, were free to express their messages to the public and had adequate opportunities to do so,” the influential, foreign organisation stated. 

NDI emphasised "Georgia’s vibrant and pluralistic media environment” played an important role in spreading election messages and promises of various political parties or players. 

Citizens of Georgia were also able to exercise their voting rights freely. These are commendable credentials,” NDI said. 

As well as noting positive achievements, the report mentioned several electoral problems that needed "concerted attention”. The concerns were mainly in relation to the qualification, neutrality and competence of several polling station commissioners.

The elections underscored the shortcomings related to the legal framework, parties’ campaign strategies, election observation, campaign financing and the misuse of administrative resources, and the under-representation of women and minority groups,” NDI said. 

The US-based organisation stressed efforts to address these issues now would help the Georgian public to have full confidence in future elections. 

NDI added in the wake of any democratic election, it was important for a new parliament and government to strive to represent "all citizens, including those who did not vote for the majority party,” and to seek to include a wide range of views in its decision making.