Georgian leaders hold final meetings with MEPs delegation day before election run-offs
“Our task is to be as transparent as possible so that no questions remain unanswered,” Garibashvili stated. Photo: Government of Georgia.
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has met with a delegation of MEPs ahead of the October 30 self-government election run-offs and spoken of the Georgian government’s determination to hold the second round of elections in a free and fair environment.
Garibashvili thanked MEPs for observing the October 1 local elections, and pledged to ensure peace and transparency during election run-offs tomorrow.
He also said that the government has held ‘democratic elections recognised by international observers’ several times since 2012.
????????greatly values @Europarl_EN interest&support in monitoring the 2nd round of ????????'s #election process. We aim to ensure safe environment for free, transparent & fair #elections. @Europarl_EN’s engagement & bold support in????????democratic progress are essential for ????????'s ???????? & NATO path.
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) October 29, 2021
At a meeting with MEPs, Irakli Garibashvili discussed the security environment and challenges in the region and stressed the importance of the European Parliament's support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Georgian government administration reports.
A total of 1,024 foreign observers from 52 international organisations monitored the self-government elections in Georgia, such as the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP).
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also met with the MEPs, during which pre-election processes and the issue of polarisation of the political environment were discussed.
Insightful meeting today with @Europarl_EN observers ahead of tomorrow’s runoff.
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) October 29, 2021
Once more, reiterated the problem of polarization in Georgia, which is even more felt when we see that the main issues we face aren’t being addressed.
We need unity to accomplish our goals. pic.twitter.com/nPqcwC916y
Zurabishvili stated that many significant issues such as occupation, pandemic, vaccination, regional and Black Sea security issues remain stagnant due to political polarisation in the country. Photo: President of Georgia press office.
In an interview with TV channel Imedi yesterday, Garibashvili also spoke of the upcoming election run-offs and reiterated that the Georgian government aims ‘to hold elections in absolutely calm situation.’
Our task is to be as transparent as possible so that no questions remain unanswered,” Garibashvili stated.
Overall, 2,088,722 voters are eligible to participate in the municipal run-offs nationwide on October 30.
Mayoral election run-offs will be held in 20 of 64 constituencies of Georgia, including the five largest cities: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti, as none of the candidates received at least 51% of the vote.
The second round of municipal elections will take place in Georgia tomorrow, including in all big cities of the country, amid a polarized political environment and continued rivalry between the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the main opposition, the United National Movement. The GD claims they will ‘finally defeat and end the UNM’ in the race, describing it ‘as an evil force’ which has been hampering development for 18 years, while the UNM still hopes the run-offs will lead to snap parliamentary elections ‘and the changing of the GD government.’
The European Parliament (EP) will send one more mission to Georgia for observing municipal election run-offs in the country on October 30, EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has announced. Ambassador Hartzell stated that four more MEPs will monitor the second round of local elections in Georgia, together with OSCE/ODIHR.
Political movement Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria and leader of the opposition Lelo for Georgia party Mamuka Khazaradze have signed a coalition cooperation document earlier today ahead of municipal election run-offs slated for October 30.
Ruling party mayoral candidate and incumbent mayor Kakha Kaladze has called on all Georgian citizens to participate in the municipal election run-offs on October 30 and ‘to put an end’ to the opposition party United National Movement (UNM).
According to the final results of the first round in the race, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party received 46.74 per cent of the vote, the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party received 30.68 per cent of the vote while ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party garnered 7.79 per cent of the vote.
MEPs Marina Kaljurand, Sven Mikser and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, who observed the October 2 local municipal elections in Georgia, have stated that the country held a competitive and well-organised first round of local elections ‘despite the extremely polarised political environment and challenging epidemiological situation.’
The local municipal elections in Georgia yesterday has received high international attention which was monitored by 1,024 foreign observers from 52 international organisations. Various foreign ambassadors to Georgia has visited election precincts in the country and offices of local NGOs observing the elections and carrying out parallel counting.
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.