US Ambassador Degnan: ‘it’s important all parties accept the official results calmly’
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan observed election precincts in Marneuli and Mtskheta municipalities of Georgia earlier today. Photo: US embassy press office.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says “It’s very important that as the officials begin to count the ballots, supporters of all political parties respect the work of election officials, accept the official results calmly, and show that these elections meet international standards from start to finish”.
Ambassador Degnan observed election precincts in Marneuli and Mtskheta municipalities earlier today during the parliamentary elections.
So far today we have met many motivated Georgian voters and dedicated poll workers who have come out to ensure the Georgian people can cast their votes and decide who they want to govern their country,” Degnan said.
She stated that Georgia has committed to uphold international standards for free and fair elections laid out by the OSCE’s ODIHR.
The international community is watching to see that these standards are met, because Georgia’s voters deserve to cast their ballots in a free and fair election,” Degnan said.
British Ambassador to Georgia Mark Clayton said that he observed about nine polling stations earlier today.
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Clayton thanked the Georgian Central Election Commission for ensuring all measures to ensure observers were able to work properly.
He welcomed the high election turnout, stating that the UK supports free and fair elections in Georgia ‘which the Georgian people deserve.’
A total of 1,279,947 voters (36.45% of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian parliamentary elections by 15 p.m.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that it will take about 100 seats in the 150-member parliament in tomorrow's elections, adding that the United National Movement opposition party has made groups of former law-enforcers to spark tension and stage provocations’ on election day.
A day before the parliamentary elections Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has urged people to make their choice at ballot boxes as the elections will define the country’s development for years to come. He stated that Georgia is able to show the world how to hold ‘exemplary elections’ despite the pandemic. "I will say once again. The pandemic will be over, we will also cope with the economic crisis. However, the elections which will be held tomorrow will define the country’s fate for years. That is why I urge our citizens to vote,” Gakharia said.
US ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that the success of the October 31 parliamentary elections is up to the Georgian Dream government and the Georgian people.
In total 1,607,530 Georgian voters have cast their ballots in the Georgian parliamentary elections across the country by 17 p.m., the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia has announced. Voter turnout now stands at 45.77 per cent.
British Ambassador to Georgia Mark Clayton has expressed his hope that the election process will continue ‘as calmly as it has until this moment’ and that ‘every party will respect the official results’ of today’s parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Opposition parties in Georgia claim that the ruling Georgian Dream party has lost the parliamentary elections. Giga Bokeria of the European Georgia said one hour before the end of the elections that 'according to all our data the Ivanishvili regime has been defeated'.
Exit polls commissioned by Mtavari Arkhi, Formula TV and Rustavi 2 say the ruling Georgian Dream party received between 41-53% in the proportional part of the elections. An election bloc or party which receives less than 40.54 per cent of votes (less then 76 seats in the 150-member parliament) in the proportional elections will not be able to form a government. Unlike previous elections, the parties which will receive at least one per cent of total votes will be allowed into parliament.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has started an investigation into nine incidents that were observed during the parliamentary elections today, announced Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kakha Sabanadze. He said that in total 10 individuals were arrested in relation to seven cases of administrative violations.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that it has won the elections as all exit polls released by four different TV channels have put their vote count between 41-55 %.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has thanked international partners and observers for their ‘commitment to Georgia’s democracy’ during the election day.