US Ambassador Degnan: municipal elections will be a serious test for Georgian democracy
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has stated that social media should play a more positive role in the Georgian election process. Photo: US embassy press office.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that this year’s municipal elections ‘will be a serious test for Georgian democracy.’
She stated earlier today that ‘it is important for elections to be held in a calm environment and for the public to have high trust in the results.’
Degnan expressed hope that the social media ‘will play a more positive role and will be more beneficial’ for the election process with less hate speech, disinformation and incorrect information.
She stated that social media should be more focused on party platforms and intentions.
Municipal elections in Georgia will take place in the autumn.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, along with former US ambassadors and the embassy staff has sent a New Year’s Eve greeting for Georgians in which she said that during the pandemic Americans and Georgians showed that ‘we can and will stand together no matter the challenges.’
Head and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili and his wife have hosted the new Ambassador of the US to Georgia Kelly Degnan and her husband at Ivanishvili’s business center in Tbilisi, the Georgian Dream press office reports.
Newly appointed US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan met with Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili earlier today, promising support ‘for successful reforms and further strengthening of cooperation,’ Georgian Defence Ministry reports.The Georgian Defence Readiness Programme, increased foreign financial support and joint exercises have been discussed during the meeting.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan summarised her first three months in the role during a virtual press conference earlier today, during which she focused on the challenges presented by the coronavirus, the Russian occupation of Georgian territories and the March 8 election agreement.
The Georgian parliament has adopted electoral amendments earlier today with its third and final reading which were initially proposed back in March 2021 by the ruling Georgian Dream party and Citizens opposition and later were revised in line with the April 19 EU-mediated agreement.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and a number of opposition parties have agreed on several constitutional amendments put forward in a EU-mediated compromise back in April to end months of political standoff.
Two candidates for the post of chair and five candidates for membership on the Central Election Commission have been proposed to the president following the recent resignation of Tamar Zhvania on June 30. The Georgian parliament adopted electoral amendments on June 28 proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition party Citizens amid months of standoff between the government and opposition and were revised in compliance with the April 19 EU-mediated agreement.
Georgian Dream ruling party has officially named Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi, as its candidate for a second term in the position, ahead of the municipal elections set to be held in October.