Lithuanian MFA welcomes ‘important step’ of Georgian elections
Minister Linas Linkevičius' office released its statement on the Georgian elections on Sunday. Photo: J. Azanovo/Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has reacted to the October 31 parliamentary elections in Georgia by welcoming the reforms that enabled the country to conduct the vote 'smoothly' and acknowledging international observers' conclusions on competitive process, but also pointing out 'irregularities and incidents'.
The ministry released its statement on the elections on Sunday, the day after the vote, and noted observers' assessment on the 'competitive' process in which 'overall fundamental freedoms were respected' and 'democratic standards were met'.
????????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
We consider this parliamentary election as an important step in consolidating democracy in Georgia. The new electoral system has increased the confidence of political parties and citizens in the democratic process" - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
In the comments the Lithuanian foreign office also welcomed the reforms to Georgia's electoral system ahead of the vote and the government 'conducting the election smoothly in difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic'.
However the ministry also noted 'some irregularities and incidents' and called on the Central Election Commission and political parties to take them into account to ensure the runoff stage of the elections - where applicable - didn't 'cast any doubts'.
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.
“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 Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has counted votes in 3,007 election districts of the total 3,847. According to the preliminary data nine parties will enter the parliament after overcoming the 1% election threshold. According to the preliminary results, Georgian Dream candidates are winning the majoritarian race in the first round of elections in 16 of 30 majoritarian constituencies, while a second round of elections is expected to take place in 14 constituencies, including in all eight constituencies in Tbilisi.
The leader of opposition United National Movement (UNM) Nika Melia has called on the public to gather in front of the parliament building at the central Rustaveli Avenue at 4 p.m. on November 1.
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".
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'.