Georgian PM: “Free, fair, democratic, competitive election is our priority”
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says that this Saturday’s municipal elections in Georgia will become yet another proof that, thanks to the democratic reforms undertaken in Georgia, holding free and fair elections has become a standard.
Speaking at today’s Government meeting, Kvirikashvili stressed that the pre-election environment has been "unprecedentedly calm” and all electoral subjects have been able to run a peaceful campaign.
PM Kvirikashvili believes that all of these proves that Georgia is ruled by a team for whom holding a free, democratic, competitive elections is a priority.
#GeorgianDream, the political team in power stands as a guarantor for holding free, democratic and competitive #elections in #Georgia.
— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) October 19, 2017
"Two days before the elections, I would like to address primarily the state institutions, secondarily the political powers and thirdly the society as a whole: let’s hold these elections in a manner that will represent yet another step towards reinforcement of truly European democracy in Georgia, leave the violent elections in the past and forget the word for past fraudulent, violent elections altogether”, Kvirikashvili said.
He urged the state agencies to give no reason for anyone to say a word about using administrative resources.
He called for peaceful elections and said:
"I would like to address our supporters and emphasize that our strength is in respecting different opinion. Our advantage stems from this principle. This is the major difference and important change that was brought about in our country in 2012 and this was confirmed many times in all elections held after 2012".
Kvirikashvili particularly addressed the law enforcement representatives and police to spare no effort in preventing any possible acts of violence, so nothing can cast a shadow on these elections.
He called on citizens to go to the polling stations and vote as this is important for the development of the country and building a better future.
Link between the will of the voters and the responsibility of the Government should further strengthen in #Georgia. https://t.co/p2tfMTdB5Gpic.twitter.com/LHRMsVU75t
— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) October 19, 2017
"As a result of the changes implemented in our country, the link between the will of the voters and the responsibility of the Government should strengthen further. This link is the most important factor; this is the link that was created by our government and I believe these elections will serve as yet another example of it", he said.
The PM’s statement was welcomed by United States Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly.
Ambassador Kelly praised the call for free and fair elections and said that there is no reason to doubt that Saturday’s vote will be truly free and fair.
He also commended the pre-election environment in the country and said that no incidents have been reported during campaigning so far.
- See Kelly’s earlier statement regarding the Municipal Elections 2017.
The United States Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly says that the pre-election environment in Georgia is positive. Kelly assessed the upcoming municipal election as he spoke to local media today. Georgia will have the elections this Saturday.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission has announced that ballot papers for the October 21 municipal elections are being printed.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced that 3,442,455 voters have been registered for the municipal elections scheduled for October 21.
The Municipal Elections 2017 will take place in Georgia on October 21. President Giorgi margvelashvili announced the exact election date at a press briefing this afternoon.
Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is investigating an incident during which four people were shot and wounded near the election headquarters of the Georgian Dream political party in the village of Kizilajlo in southern Georgia’s Marneuli district late last night.
Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili has hosted representatives of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) monitoring mission at the Government Administration today.
Tomorrow is election day in Georgia, when the country will vote for 2,058 members of 64 city councils (sakrebulo) and 64 municipal mayors. Twenty-two political parties, five election blocs and one initiative group have registered their party lists for tomorrow’s elections.
Today is election day in Georgia, when the country will vote for 2,058 members of 64 city councils (sakrebulo) and 64 municipal mayors. The polling stations opened at 8 am this morning for about 3.44 million eligible voters.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has cast his ballot in today's Municipal Elections and voted for "a better Tbilisi”. PM arrived at Saburtalo #24 polling station in central Tbilisi about 9:00am with his family.
Four hours since the polling stations opened for voters this morning and some of Tbilisi mayoral candidates have already cast their ballots in today's Municipal Elections. Georgian Dream candidate Kakha Kaladze arrived at the polling station at about 10 am.