EU Delegation to Georgia expects all political parties can overcome differences to take up parliamentary seats
The eight opposition parties, which entered parliament following the October 31 elections, took to the street shortly after the race. They say that the elections were fabricated and are demanding repeat elections. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The delegation of the European Union to Georgia regrets ‘the mistrust that has affected the electoral process' and the fact that opposition candidates 'did not contest seats in the second round’ of parliamentary elections.
Noting that the European Union ‘strongly supports democratic processes and the respect for legal frameworks’ the EU delegation said ‘Georgia needs a functioning parliament as the central forum for political debate, with all parties working together to advance reforms, in line with our mutual commitments under the Association Agreement’.
We therefore hope and expect that all political parties can overcome their differences to enable elected Members of Parliament, notwithstanding their differing assessments of the electoral process, to take up their seats”, the EU delegation has stated.
The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, in coordination with EU Heads of Mission, issues the following comments on the 2020 parliamentary elections, on 22 November 2020https://t.co/1eAcbTl3AI
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) November 22, 2020
The delegation further encourages members ‘to use the mandates entrusted to them by the citizens of Georgia to address outstanding political issues, including by improving the foundations for future elections through ambitious and credible electoral and judicial reforms’.
The Parliament also needs to play its full role in addressing the urgent health and socio-economic challenges the country is facing due to the pandemic”, the EU statement reads.
Urging all sides ‘to refrain from provocative actions’ and ‘to uphold the rule of law’, the delegation says they ‘fully stand behind every citizen’s right to peacefully exercise their freedom of speech and assembly and condemn all acts or threats of violence’.
A high responsibility now rests on the political leaders of both majority and opposition parties to come together to find common ground and build common purpose, to enable Georgia to advance effectively on its democratic path and the implementation of our agreed European agenda, in the interest of Georgia, its citizens and of EU-Georgia relations”, the EU delegation has stated.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
During the November 21 run-offs, the ruling Georgian Dream party has won all of the 17 majoritarian constituencies and the mayoral by-elections in Kutaisi.
The candidates of five opposition political parties who had qualified for the run-offs had unanimously declared their unwillingness to participate.
Claiming that the October 31 parliamentary elections were falsified they demand new elections be held under the new CEC leadership.
Despite their boycott, opposition continues to hold negotiations with the ruling party under the foreign ambassadors' mediation aimed to reach a consensus over the current political crisis.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has finished counting votes for the second round of the parliamentary elections in Georgia with the ruling Georgian Dream party winning all of the 17 majoritarian constituencies and the mayoral by-elections in Kutaisi.
All 17 majoritarian candidates of the ruling Georgian Dream party have won the run-off elections based on the preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission (CEC). As of now, the results from 1,043 polling stations have been counted, which is 52% of the total number of polling stations that were open for the second round of parliamentary elections today.
Opposition politicians - who have qualified for today’s run offs - call on their supporters not to head to polling stations today claiming the October 31 parliamentary elections were falsified. The opposition has unanimously declared their unwillingness to participate in the second round of the elections even though their names remain on the majoritarian ballot papers per law.
Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze says that an agreement may be reached with opposition parties during the third round of negotiations which is being mediated by foreign ambassadors.
"These elections have resulted in a diverse parliament where the ruling majority will face a strong opposition that can ensure proper parliamentary oversight. The only appropriate forum for this, as well as for debating and challenging diverging political views, is the parliament. For the sake of Georgia’s democratic consolidation, we therefore call on all parties to accept the mandates they won in these elections and enter into the new parliament,” said the co-rapporteurs.
David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Marina Kaljurand (S&D, Estonia), Sven Mikser (S&D, Estonia), and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (The Greens/EFA, Germany) once again congratulated Georgia, 'a key ally of the EU, on organising these elections despite a challenging epidemiological context'. However, they 'regret the fact that opposition candidates did not contest seats in the second round'.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has promised that they will accept repeat elections if a temporary investigative commission created by the 10th convocation of the parliament of Georgia reveals that at least 1% of votes were rigged or falsified. Kobakhidze commented on other issues related to the parliament, noting that parties that do not take up their mandates in parliament will not receive budgetary funding and other benefits.