PM: Pre-election campaigning should begin on July 8

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili believes political parties should have three months to carry out their pre-election campaigning ahead of the October Parliamentary Elections. 

For this reason Kvirikashvili refused to sign the President’s decree that stated pre-election campaigning should begin on August 8 – the date which was opposed by the opposition and the civil sector. 

PM Kvirikashvili stressed the election day – October 8 – was agreed with the President and this decision would not change. However when it came to beginning pre-election campaigning, the PM believed July 8 not August 8 was a relevant time.

The Government’s Administration will send the PM’s comments to President Giorgi Margvelashvili today. The President must then release a new degree stating the election date and a revised date when pre-election campaigning will begin.

The Prime Minister must sign the President’s decree otherwise the election date and campaigning period will not be valid. 

President Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Kvirikashvili met on April 5 to discuss the dates for the October Parliamentary election. The following day Margvelashvili sent a degree to Kvirikashvili to sign, stating the elections will be held on October 8 while the pre-election campaign period will begin on August 8.

The President said beginning pre-election campaigning any earlier than August 8 would result in over spending from the state budget. 

At the time the opposition and the civil sector said two months was not long enough for parties to promote themselves and inform the public about their political agendas.