OSCE/ODIHR, EP: Georgian election run-offs ‘competitive, well-organized,’ but polarized
OSCE/ODIHR and EP observers stated that the Georgian municipal elections demonstrated the need for further reforms. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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OSCE/ODIHR and European Parliament (EP) observation missions have assessed Georgian municipal election run-offs held yesterday, stating that the race ‘was generally competitive and organized professionally’, but increasing polarization and negative rhetoric, as well as allegations of voter intimidation and the ‘continuing advantage of incumbency, demonstrated the need for further reforms.
While these elections were well organised and transparent, there were a number of shortcomings that became evident in the run-up to the second round as the tone of the political debate became increasingly confrontational and claims of pressure and intimidation continued,” said Albert Jonsson, head of ODIHR election observation mission.
The observers said that while the elections were technically well run, concerns over the impartiality of election commissions at the lower level persisted.
Election day itself was generally calm, although there were instances of mutual provocation by supporters of political parties outside polling stations. The observers assessed the opening and voting procedures positively in most polling stations, but the ongoing practice of representatives of observer organizations acting as party supporters and at times interfering with the process remains of concern,” said the statement.
#Georgia’s local #election run-off competitive and well run, but undermined by deepening polarization and continued unlevel playing field: international observers https://t.co/nbrbGultWb pic.twitter.com/vfwsjbUSNf
— OSCE/ODIHR (@osce_odihr) October 31, 2021
The international observers stated that candidates were able to campaign freely, noting that there was an ‘increasing focus’ on national issues, making for a fierce political competition, greater polarization and an increasingly offensive rhetoric.
They stated that polarization continued to be the ‘key characteristic’ of the media environment ahead of the second round, with many private television channels either voicing clear support for the ruling party and providing negative coverage of the opposition or vice versa.
The election was calm and well run, and the administrative staff well trained and instructed. My sincere thanks to the many Georgian women who worked in the commissions, where they represented the overwhelming majority of staff. At the same time very few candidates were women, and I expect and hope this will change in the time to come,” said Inese Vaidere, head of the EP delegation.
The international election observation to the second round of the local elections in Georgia totalled 149 observers from 31 countries, including 142 ODIHR experts and long- and short-term observers, and seven from the EP.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) has assessed the October 30 municipal election run-offs as a ‘missed opportunity’ for Georgian democracy. The organisation monitored the second round of elections in all 20 constituencies where the run-offs were held, with 542 observers at polling stations and 100 outdoor observers.
The official results of the Central Election Commission (CEC) for the 2021 municipal election run-offs in Georgia show that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party mayoral candidates have won in 19 municipalities, while the opposition United National Movement (UNM) contender has won in just one. Incumbent Tbilisi mayor and candidate Kakha Kaladze from the GD took 55.6% of the votes over the UNM’s Nika Melia, with 100% of the votes counted.
The Central Election Commission has reported 219 formal complaints from the election runoff voting by 11pm on Saturday, most of them "procedural" violations.
Agenda.ge team has put together an interactive map showing results of the 2021 municipal elections in real time, as the Central Election Commission is preparing to announce its preliminary data on the votes late during the night between Saturday and Sunday.
Chairman of the United National Movement (UNM) Nika Melia, who has now officially lost the Tbilisi mayoral elections to the ruling Georgian Dream’s (GD) Kakha Kaladze in yesterday's run-off elections, has called the municipal elections ‘void,’ and asked his supporters to gather near the parliament this evening to hear the united opposition’s action plan.
A number of ruling party members have reacted to the results of the municipal election run-offs earlier today which have ended with a victory for the Georgian Dream party mayoral candidates in 19 of 20 municipalities.
Georgian opposition leaders have gathered with their supporters in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi to protest the results of the October 30 run-off municipal elections. The opposition, claiming that the election results were fabricated, announced rallies in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, and Zugdidi, in addition to the massive demonstration in Tbilisi scheduled for November 7.
Former Georgian prime minister Giorgi Gakharia, who now chairs the opposition For Georgia party, says the October 30 municipal run-offs were ‘neither free, nor fair’. Gakharia, who left the prime minister’s post and the ruling Georgian Dream party earlier this year run for Tbilisi mayor in municipal elections, but ended the race third.
The EU delegation to Georgia says that the October 30 municipal election run-offs in Georgia were generally well administered, the campaign was competitive, but that serious issues persist with an escalation of ‘negative rhetoric, persistent allegations of intimidation and pressure on voters and sharp imbalances in resources, which benefited the ruling party and tilted the playing field.’
The United States Embassy to Georgia has stated that electoral reforms made by Georgian politicians earlier this year have increased the transparency of the voting process – emphasising, however, that ‘widespread violations adversely affected the ability of citizens to vote freely’ in local self-government elections in Georgia.
The British Embassy in Georgia has assessed the Georgian municipal elections run-offs as ‘well administered’, but pointed out issues of ‘negative rhetoric’ and ‘pressure on voters.’ The embassy agrees with the OSCE/ODIHR evaluation that the run-offs were competitive, but undermined by ‘deepening polarization.’
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili released a letter from Rustavi Prison No. 12 earlier today, urging the public to join anti-government rallies announced by the opposition. Saakashvili claims the opposition won the local self-government elections in all cities of Georgia, and asks the citizens of Georgia to join the street rallies, demanding the annulment of election results and his release from prison.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) says that it is ready to lend support to election commission member of Kutaisi No. 90 polling station Iza Chirgadze, who said last week that she was forced by ruling Georgian Dream party representatives to give ballot papers to unregistered voters on the election day on Saturday.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has dismissed allegations by a member of Kutaisi precinct election commission, Iza Chirgadze, that she was forced by the party to give ballot papers to unregistered voters on the election day on Saturday.
The opposition has won the majority in city assemblies in seven out of 64 municipalities – Batumi, Zugdidi, Martvili, Chkhorotsku, Tsalenjikha, Rustavi and Senaki. GD head Irakli Kobakhidze stated that ‘the majority will be formed on the basis of negotiations with the members of the city councils,’ in municipalities where GD lost the majority, noting that ‘work on the issue has already started successfully.’
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) will recount the votes of 140 district election commissions, in line with recent legal changes which oblige the CEC to recount a certain number of votes to verify their validity.