Leading MEPs congratulate Georgia on election run-offs, ‘regret’ opposition candidates ‘did not contest seats’
MEPs call on all political parties eligible for MP seats, to work ‘in a constructive fashion, keeping in mind the greater interest of Georgia’s chosen European path’. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Leading members of the European parliament working on EU-Georgia relations have issued a joint statement on the second round of parliamentary elections in Georgia.
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'.
2 round of the parliamentary elections took place for the remainder of 17 seats still to be allocated under the majoritarian system. All political forces represented in the Parl. must work in a constructive fashion, keeping in mind the greater interest of ????????'s chosen ???????? path. https://t.co/nHPlJZycMq
— Marina Kaljurand MEP (@MarinaKaljurand) November 23, 2020
The authors of the statement stand by the evaluation of the international observers as well as the feedback from the European diplomatic watch following the first round. After the second round they again expect ‘a fair, transparent and thorough handling of all substantiated appeals and complaints’.
As previously stated, this was a pivotal moment to assess the commitment of the Georgian authorities and of all political parties to uphold democratic processes and the rule of law”, the joint statement reads.
It also says that the MEPs ‘appreciate the fact that these elections took place under an improved electoral system, paving the way for a more pluralistic parliament’.
- EU Delegation to Georgia expects all political parties can overcome differences to take up parliamentary seats
- PACE calls on Georgian opposition to take up mandates in parliament
Claiming elections were falsified, opposition parties, which have overcome the mandatory 1% threshold, demand repeat elections. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
We ask that remaining shortcomings be addressed through a new electoral reform addressing pending OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and through the active involvement of all political parties represented in parliament”, they stated.
The European Parliament ‘remains ready to provide assistance, among others via parliamentary electoral dialogues and mediation between the Georgian political factions, so as to further improve relevant legislation ahead of future elections’.
We call on all political actors to show responsibility, restraint and maturity, to respect the democratic choice of the electorate and to find the necessary compromises, notably through the new dialogue facilitated jointly by the EU and US Ambassadors to Georgia, in order to enable the smooth functioning of parliament, an institution vital for democracy”, the MEPs also noted.
They further urge that all of the political forces 'represented in the newly elected parliament; must work 'in a constructive fashion, keeping in mind the greater interest of Georgia’s chosen European path’.