Newsroom
Georgian parliamentary elections demonstrate continued progress
TBILISI 29 March 2004
TBILISI, 29 March 2004 - The 28 March parliamentary elections in Georgia demonstrated commendable progress in relation to previous elections, concludes the International Election Observation Mission in a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions issued today.
The Georgian authorities have seized the opportunity in the last few months to bring Georgia's election process into closer alignment with European standards for democratic elections, the Mission has found. However, continued intimidation and physical abuse against opposition supporters and journalists in Ajara, cast a shadow over the overall progress in the election process, its statement adds.
It also makes clear that Georgia's election process will only be fully tested in a more competitive environment, once a genuine level of political pluralism is re-established.
Some 440 international observers monitored the polls.
"The contrast with the November 2003 parliamentary elections is very substantial," said Bruce George, Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office leading the Short-Term Observation Mission. "I am encouraged by the move towards greater democratisation. I look forward on my return to witness the process deepened."
Matyas Eorsi, Head of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's delegation added that the Georgian paradox revealed promising elections with disconcerting effects. "This poll was better organized and more democratic than previous ones," he said. "Yet it almost resulted in a one-party parliament, which does reflect the will of the people, but cannot reflect the wide diversity of views indispensable for meaningful debates on Georgia's future. The Government has now received the political support it needed to introduce necessary reforms for the benefit of the whole of Georgia."
Demetrio Volcic, Head of the Delegation of the European Parliament pointed out that "With the exception of Ajara, the media was able to express itself freely. However, the State TV news focussed overwhelmingly on the authorities and the parties supporting them and failed to provide sufficient airtime for political debate. It is in the Government's interest to conduct a dialogue with the opposition,"
Michael Wygant, who heads the Long-Term Observation Mission of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said that "No effort was made by the authorities of Ajara to create conditions during the campaign for conduct of a democratic election, as sometimes violent intimidation of supporters of the opposition, election officials and journalists demonstrated very clearly."
International observers also stated that commendable efforts were made to improve the voters' lists. Although same-day voter registration was allowed this time, it should not be repeated in future elections. The continuing lack of a clear separation between state administration and political party structures, as well as the inability to ensure balanced composition of election commissions at all levels, should be addressed by the authorities.
In general, election day was calm and peaceful and the election administration operated with overall efficiency.
In Ajara, apparently there were less systematic irregularities, although isolated incidents have been reported. Once again, voter irregularities were particularly noticeable in Marneuli, Gardabani and Tkibuli, where observers reported cases of multiple voting and ballot stuffing, as well as suspiciously high turnout figures.
The Georgian authorities have seized the opportunity in the last few months to bring Georgia's election process into closer alignment with European standards for democratic elections, the Mission has found. However, continued intimidation and physical abuse against opposition supporters and journalists in Ajara, cast a shadow over the overall progress in the election process, its statement adds.
It also makes clear that Georgia's election process will only be fully tested in a more competitive environment, once a genuine level of political pluralism is re-established.
Some 440 international observers monitored the polls.
"The contrast with the November 2003 parliamentary elections is very substantial," said Bruce George, Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office leading the Short-Term Observation Mission. "I am encouraged by the move towards greater democratisation. I look forward on my return to witness the process deepened."
Matyas Eorsi, Head of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's delegation added that the Georgian paradox revealed promising elections with disconcerting effects. "This poll was better organized and more democratic than previous ones," he said. "Yet it almost resulted in a one-party parliament, which does reflect the will of the people, but cannot reflect the wide diversity of views indispensable for meaningful debates on Georgia's future. The Government has now received the political support it needed to introduce necessary reforms for the benefit of the whole of Georgia."
Demetrio Volcic, Head of the Delegation of the European Parliament pointed out that "With the exception of Ajara, the media was able to express itself freely. However, the State TV news focussed overwhelmingly on the authorities and the parties supporting them and failed to provide sufficient airtime for political debate. It is in the Government's interest to conduct a dialogue with the opposition,"
Michael Wygant, who heads the Long-Term Observation Mission of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said that "No effort was made by the authorities of Ajara to create conditions during the campaign for conduct of a democratic election, as sometimes violent intimidation of supporters of the opposition, election officials and journalists demonstrated very clearly."
International observers also stated that commendable efforts were made to improve the voters' lists. Although same-day voter registration was allowed this time, it should not be repeated in future elections. The continuing lack of a clear separation between state administration and political party structures, as well as the inability to ensure balanced composition of election commissions at all levels, should be addressed by the authorities.
In general, election day was calm and peaceful and the election administration operated with overall efficiency.
In Ajara, apparently there were less systematic irregularities, although isolated incidents have been reported. Once again, voter irregularities were particularly noticeable in Marneuli, Gardabani and Tkibuli, where observers reported cases of multiple voting and ballot stuffing, as well as suspiciously high turnout figures.