Ruling party MP slams opposition for “storm in a teacup” over election observers
Davituliani stressed observers would be present for the vote “in accordance with relevant regulations”. Photo: Parliament press office
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Beka Davituliani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday slammed the United National Movement party for “creating a storm in a teacup” after the latter called for the country’s Foreign Ministry to formally request observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe for the parliamentary elections in the country later this year.
The lawmaker stressed observers would be present for the vote “in accordance with relevant regulations”, after UNM’s request for the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to be invited.
He further noted “[a]ll observer missions are expected to monitor the elections, which are expected to be conducted efficiently and surpass previous standards”.
Davituliani stressed the introduction of electronic voting for the race, which will be held through fully proportional elections for the first time in the country, would “significantly reduce” risk of vote-rigging.
He also claimed the observers would “recognise the outcome [of the voting] that will be positive” for the ruling power.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission on Wednesday set October 26 as the date for this year’s parliamentary elections and outlined mandatory registration procedures for participating parties.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday claimed the country’s authorities were “well-prepared” for next year’s parliamentary elections, but opposed the latest opinion by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe over election rules of the head of the country’s Central Election Commission and its members.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Monday said the introduction of electronic voting across the country ahead of the 2024 Parliamentary Elections would “remove all kinds of speculation” by domestic “radical groups” about “rigged elections”.
The new constitution of Georgia, which was adopted in 2017, has automatically come into play after the yesterday’s presidential inauguration.
David Matikashvili, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the opposition United National Movement party and “its various branches” were “trying to correct their positions through a PR campaign”, an outcome he said was “not possible”.