PM hails Georgian citizens as “main assessor” of Saturday’s parliamentary elections
Kobakhidze expressed optimism over the electoral outcome, that Georgian citizens would make a decision that “is needed for the solid and decent development of our country”. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said Georgian citizens were the “main assessor” of Saturday’s parliamentary elections.
In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze stressed that the Georgian authorities had established “all possible legal bases” so as not to leave “even a reason” to question the upcoming elections.
The PM further claimed a “lack of public confidence” in local monitoring organisations by alleging that “they do not possess the necessary reputation to provide credible assessments”, while expressing confidence in the role of international monitoring missions, citing the interim report of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which highlighted polarisation of the domestic political environment as “primary concern”.
Polarisation in the political spectrum, polarisation in the media - these are the developments known to everyone. No other significant problems were identified in the electoral process. No one can bring problems that don't exist out of thin air. The election day will also pass in an unprecedentedly good way, among other things, we have created all possible legal bases for this”, he continued.
The PM noted for the first time in the country’s history 91 percent of voters would be registered electronically, would cast their votes electronically, and would have their votes counted electronically, eliminating human errors, and leaving “no room for manipulation”.
Some individuals are trying to influence elections [outcome], to change the Government. Once all this is over, such attempts will immediately end. As for the attitude of citizens, everyone witnessed that the blackmail and sanctions directed against the country, its Government and Bidzina Ivanishvili [the Honorary Chair and Founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party], who is the main guarantor of peace and development in this country, had failed”, Kobakhidze said.
Kobakhidze expressed optimism over the electoral outcome, that Georgian citizens would make a decision that “is needed for the solid and decent development of our country”.
Shifting focus to the achievements of the ruling party, the PM outlined the progress made since 2012, when the GD came to power, and further highlighted a series of accomplishments.
He also called the upcoming elections a “referendum” and a choice between a “dark past and a bright, prosperous future, war and peace”, adding that “when it comes to the radical opposition, if we look at the crimes they committed in the past, it is already clear where the Georgian people should stand”.
The Government head emphasised that the ruling party had always enjoyed the support of Georgian citizens, adding “this support will be the main thing that will decide the fate of the country tomorrow”.
The PM further characterised the former United National Movement Government, which ruled until 2012, as a political force embodying “authoritarianism of foreign agents”, accusing it of committing numerous crimes against the Georgian state and its citizens, while describing several domestic opposition parties as mere branches of the collective United National Movement opposition, claiming they had participated in many of crimes under the UNM Government.
Kobakhidze also claimed that if the opposition won the elections, it would not take even a week for them to open a second front in the country amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.