Parliament Vice Speaker: election code changes will produce “same electoral administration” as in European countries
Talakvadze claimed the changes would remove “political players” from the election administration process. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker, on Monday said changes to the domestic election code would give the country the “same electoral administration” as the ones found in European countries.
Talakvadze claimed the changes would remove “political players” from the election administration process.
These changes reduce the risk of political interference, [and] possibilities of political speculation with the election administration. In practice, political players are removed from the process of election administration, which should be impartial”, the official said.
The Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs on Monday started discussions of the changes to be made to the code, involving regulations on elections of the Central Election Commission Chair and its members.
Irakli Garibashvili, the new Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister of Georgia, on Thursday said his party’s goal was to secure a constitutional majority in the October general elections, while also condemning “anti-state” and “criminal activities” of President Salome Zourabichvili and the founder of the Lelo opposition party Mamuka Khazaradze.
The Georgian Central Election Commission on Thursday said it welcomed the involvement of international observer organisations in the general elections set for October in the country.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Monday addressed Matteo Mecacci, the Director of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, with an invitation to send observers for the general elections in the country, set for October.
Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Central Election Commission, on Monday held an introductory meeting with Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, discussing the process of preparations for the 2024 parliamentary elections, the CEC said.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday reviewed the pre-election environment in the country with the International Pre-election Assessment Mission of the United States-based National Democratic Institute.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said it was “principally important” to prevent both direct and indirect foreign financing of political entities in Georgia to “safeguard state sovereignty”.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday vetoed amendments to the election code, approved by the Parliament, that stipulated transfer of the power to elect the Chair and members of the Central Election Commission to the President if the legislative body failed to elect them in two attempts.