Georgian PM talks to MEPs on country’s readiness for ‘free, fair, transparent’ self-gov’t elections
Garibashvili once again pledged to hold Covid-safe elections, noting that ‘specific protocols have been developed for ensuring the health and safety of the international observers.’ Photo: Georgian Dream press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has met with a delegation of MEPs ahead of the October 2 municipal elections and has discussed the Georgian government’s readiness to hold ‘free, fair and transparent’ local self-government elections.
PM has thanked the MEPs for their support of the country’s European integration, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
[PM Garibashvili] highlighted the importance of the elections for the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Georgia, strong institutional building, further independence of the judiciary and rule of law,” the Georgian government administration reports.
Garibashvili also noted that since 2012 the Georgian government has held ‘six democratic elections,’ saying that each of them was recognised by the international observers.
Prime Minister of Georgia Discusses Complete Readiness for Free, Fair and Transparent Elections with MEPshttps://t.co/BKsD13kfhN
— Georgian Government (@GovernmentGeo) October 1, 2021
He stated that several international organisations were invited by the government to observe the October 2 municipal race in Georgia such as the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and European Parliament (EP).
Garibashvili once again pledged to hold Covid-safe elections, noting that ‘specific protocols have been developed for ensuring the health and safety of the international observers.’
The Georgian PM’s meeting with the MEPs included EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and Head of Government Administration Ilia Darchiashvili.
Overall 71 local and 33 international organisations will observe the municipal elections in the country tomorrow.
“The Georgian government will spare no effort to ensure a free and safe environment for transparent elections”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated at the meeting with the representatives of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) earlier today.
The Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will observe the October 2 self-government elections in Georgia on the invitation of the Georgian government in 64 municipalities of the country. The mission involves 18 congress observers from 15 countries and is chaired by David Eray from Switzerland.
Expert teams of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) are visiting Tbilisi in the run up to the October 2 self-government elections and are calling on ‘all political parties to uphold democratic principles by participating actively and in good faith during the elections and in the post-election period.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the country must hold the October 2 municipal elections in a safe environment amid the coronavirus pandemic and has announced a meeting with the leadership of the country’s Central Election Commission (CEC) in the coming days.