Int'l reactions to Georgian parliamentary elections in tweets
The ruling Georgian Dream party has won the parliamentary elections of October 31, but the opposition deos not recognise the Central Election Commisison results. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
????????congratulates #Georgia on conducting the parliamentary elections under the new electoral system and reminds that further efforts to address shortcomings are needed. We hope for continuation of important reforms & ready to continue supporting????????Euro-Atlantic path. @DZalkaliani https://t.co/YhC8G8FlSb
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) November 1, 2020
“This weekend marks an important democratic milestone for the people of Georgia”, General Philip M. Breedlove wrote on Twitter congratulating Georgia on the parliamentary elections.
This weekend marks an important democratic milestone for the people of Georgia - congratulations! The government has been given a mandate to strengthen ties with the US, NATO & Western allies. Looking forward to continued cooperation between our nations in the years to come ????????????????
— GEN (R) Phil Breedlove (@PMBreedlove) November 1, 2020
CEPA Director for Democratic Resilience Corina Rebegea also tweeted that the ‘Georgian elections deemed [had been] generally free and fair, but power monopoly was not broken’.
Jonathan Katz is director of Democracy Initiatives and a senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) said the elections were ‘hotly contested’.
The election in Georgia w/challenge of COVID19 was hotly contested. I see mixed reviews - with some real concerns - regarding electoral challenges/problems being discussed post #Georgia’s election today. That does not mean the CEC numbers are not correct. https://t.co/epAsTEwZyo
— Jonathan Katz (@JonDKatz) November 1, 2020
The European Delegation to Georgia also shared remarks of its diplomatic watch teams comprised of various European embassies in Georgia.
Yesterday 70 European Diplomatic Watch teams covered the opening, voting & counting procedures at polling stations all around ???????? Georgia.#EuroDiploWatchGE2020 pic.twitter.com/MzbYvX3NR4
— EU Delegation Georgia ???????? (@EUinGeorgia) November 1, 2020
Meanwhile, earlier today, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its preliminary statement that 'Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected”.
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 has held peaceful, just, safe and democratic elections, says Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.
“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.
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.
MEPs on EU-Georgia relations from the European Parliament have congratulated Georgia, 'a key ally of the EU', on 'successfully' organising the first round of the parliamentary elections held on October 31 in Georgia despite ‘the difficult epidemiological context'.
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.
The spokesperson of the EU External Action Service has released a statement on the first round of the 2020 parliamentary elections held in Georgia on October 31 'under a revised electoral system and with high voter turnout, despite the challenging context of the Covid-19 pandemic'.
Tbilisi City Court has set bail at 70,000 GEL for United National Movement MP Nika Melia. He has also been prohibited from leaving Georgia without informing the prosecution in advance and receiving its consent.