Georgian President Zurabishvili: Georgia held peaceful, just, safe and democratic elections
She noted that with yesterday’s parliamentary elections Georgian society has “defeated nihilism” and proved that the post-Soviet era in Georgia is ending. Photo: Zalome Zurabishvili's press office.
Tweet 
Share
Georgia has held peaceful, just, safe and democratic elections, says Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.
Despite the severe and unprecedented challenges, yesterday’s parliamentary elections have once again shown to the world that the continues to move smoothly on the path of democracy and development,” she noted.
[The country] was capable of holding elections peacefully, with high voter turnout and without severe violations. For this, I would like to thank every voter regardless of their political preference, as this is everyone’s victory,” said Zurabishvili.
She expressed gratitude to the international observer missions for participating in this very important process.
We managed to hold elections according to a new electoral system, proportional for the most part. Once again, it is a step forward for democracy,” she said.
Salome Zurabishvili noted that despite the COVID-19 pandemic and despite the ongoing conflict in the region the country managed to hold safe elections.
The electoral process was peaceful in the regions densely inhabited by our citizens of Armenian and Azerbaijani origins. This is a sign that in the context of this difficult and painful conflict, Georgia remains an island of stability and the nation where the Caucasian tradition of cohabitation and tolerance lives on,” said Zurabishvili.
She noted that with yesterday’s parliamentary elections Georgian society has “defeated nihilism” and proved that the post-Soviet era in Georgia is ending.
Opposition parties which surpassed the one percent election threshold in Saturday’s parliamentary elections in Georgia or nearly did so say they will not take up their mandates in parliament and instead will take to the streets and call for repeat elections. Leaders of the United National Movement, European Georgia, Lelo for Georgia, Strategy Aghmashenebeli and the United Georgia-Democratic Movement opposition parties have accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of vote buying and threatening voters.
The Central Election Commission of Georgia should recount votes in eight per cent of polling stations where there were more ballots than registered voters, says the chief executive director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Elene Nizharadze.
Votes from 47 of 57 polling stations abroad have been counted, and preliminary data show that the opposition United National Movement received 44.89 per cent of the vote, with the ruling Georgian Dream party receiving 29.15%, says the Central Election Commission (CEC) which has already counted 90.56 per cent of the votes following yesterday’s parliamentary elections.
Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili writes on his Facebook page that the ‘political greed of the ruling party may cost the government and the country dearly.’
“Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected”, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its preliminary statement today.
The United States Embassy in Georgia has welcomed the recent "competitive" parliamentary elections in the country and applauded citizens for their turnout against the backdrop of the pandemic, while also pointing out "deficiencies" in the process that require resolution by the authorities.
A number of foreign dignitaries have assessed Georgia's parliamentary elections of October 31, which were held against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said his country is ready to continue supporting Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path.
Georgia's foreign minister David Zalkaliani expressed gratitude to the country's international partners for sending their observers for the parliamentary elections held on Saturday and pointed out their support for "further consolidation of democracy in Georgia".
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia wrote on his Facebook today that he has gone into self-isolation after one of his aides tested positive for coronavirus. PM Gakharia, who continues to work remotely, thanked international observers ‘for their commitment to Georgia’s democracy’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Unanimous in their demands for repeat elections, the parties which have overcame the mandatory 1% threshold, including the United National Movement, Euroepan Georgia, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Lelo for Georgia, Labour Party and Girchi, accuse the CEC of falsifying elections on behalf of the ruling party.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has counted all votes cast in Saturday’s parliamentary elections. Nine parties have crossed the one per cent threshold to make it into the 150-member parliament per the proportional electoral system (120 seats in the legislative body). In the majoritarian elections the ruling Georgian Dream candidates has won 14 of 30 majoritarian constituences. A run-off will be held in 16 majoritarian constituencies on November 21, where the ruling Georgian Dream candidates won the race in 15 (of 16) constituencies, however, they were unable to receive at least 51% of total votes.
Chairperson of the Georgian Central Election Commision (CEC) Tamar Zhvania met with the diplomatic corps and representatives of international observation missions to respond to questions about discrepancies at voting stations which have caused controversies.