Election Commission Chair calls for putting “national interests” above “political agenda” ahead of October vote

Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Central Election Commission of Georgian, on Sunday called on domestic political parties to “put national interests above political agenda” for the “common cause” of ensuring high standards for the general election in October.

At all polling stations where new technology [of electronic voting] is introduced, the votes will be unconditionally recounted, which will naturally set a very high standard of transparency and publicity”, Kalandarishvili said in an interview with Imedi TV. 

The official stressed the tools were “not a silver bullet” to cover all matters of voting, but an “opportunity [and a] mechanism to address concerns” stemming from outcomes of elections of previous years.

He further called for “joint efforts” to ensure the conduct of the vote, set for October 26, “in accordance with European and international standards”.