CEC schedules by-elections to elect 5 mayors for October 31
The CEC announced that the mayoral elections will be held at 254 election precincts, while City Council (Sakrebulo) elections will be held at 39 election precincts. Photo: The Central Election Commission press office
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The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia has announced that mayoral by-elections in the five municipalities of Kaspi, Oni, Kharagauli, Terjola and Kutaisi will be held along with the parliamentary elections on October 31.
Moreover, by-elections will be held in the local majoritarian election districts of the four municipalities of Tbilisi, Telavi, Tetritskaro and Oni to elect City Council (Sakrebulo) members.
The CEC announced of holding by-elections yesterday. Photo: The Central Election Commission press office
The CEC spokesperson Ana Mikeladze said yesterday that both by-elections have been scheduled due to the ‘early termination of the authorities’ of the respective mayors and Sakrebulo majoritarian MPs.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) NGO had stated earlier that resignation of four mayors in the municipalities of Kaspi, Terjola, Oni and Kutaisi might have been caused by pressure exerted on them by the central government or the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The ruling party will keep Giorgi Gakharia as its candidate for prime minister because of his high level of professionalism and patriotism, as well as his excellent leadership and management skills. Archil Talakvadze will again serve as the parliament speaker as well.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that Georgia should expect Russian interference in the upcoming parliamentary elections. She said that one of the ways Russia may interfere in the parliamentary elections is to spread disinformation campaigns.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has named October 31 as the date of parliamentary elections and elections of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara within Georgia. Zurabishvili said that 30 years ago, on October 28, 1990 Georgia held democratic elections and 'we should continue this tradition and represent our country to the world as an extremely democratic country'.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) NGO says the resignation of four mayors in the cities of Kaspi, Terjola, Oni and Kutaisi may have been caused by pressure exerted on them by the central government or the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.
Georgian citizens registered abroad will be able to cast ballot in 40 countries during Georgia’s parliamentary elections on October 31.Citizens will be able to register with their embassies abroad by October 11.
Lithuanian MEP Andrius Kubilius told Georgian Imedi TV channel that 'Georgia is making really strong progress in European integration, along with its democratic development'.
A Consulate General of Georgia has opened in San Francisco that will provide consular services to Georgian citizens starting October 1, 2020.
The Central Election Commission has set safety guidelines for the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 31 following consultations with political parties and monitoring organisations. Disinfectant barriers and hand sanitizers as well as information about preventive measures against the spread of the virus will be placed at the entrance of polling premises, the CEC said.
Georgian citizens residing abroad can find a polling station in their respective country via an online registry set up by the Georgian Foreign Ministry. The Central Election Commission of Georgia announced in early September that Georgian citizens registered abroad will be able to cast ballot in 40 countries