About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
PM: 'Second Round Runoffs Good for Democracy'
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 16 Jun.'14 / 20:59

There is “no tragedy” that second round runoffs will be held in mayoral and gamgebeli races in number of cities and municipalities where GD ruling coalition’s candidates failed to win a clear majority in the June 15 municipal elections, PM Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday.

“On the contrary, this is very good for our democracy, our country and our people. This is a unique opportunity to further consolidate Georgian democracy,” Garibashvili, who is the leader of GD ruling coalition, said at a news conference.

He hailed the June 15 municipal elections as “revolutionary.”

“Yesterday it was really a historical day for our country,” the PM said. “I want to say proudly that for the first time in the history of our country’s independence we have all witnessed really democratic, free and fair local elections.”

“Ballots of all voters were protected; election administrations worked independently and the authorities did not interfere in their activities,” he said.

He congratulated supporters “on the victory in these elections.”

“We are leading in all districts, all cities and all villages and we have proved that Georgian Dream is the only political force, which has no alternative and which can rule the country democratically,” Garibashvili said.

He said that the government was “realizing” that runoffs in several municipalities were possible after agreeing to introduce 50% mark as a minimum threshold for electing mayors and gamgebelis in the first round.
 
“But we purposefully agreed on this experiment, because our key task was to get people accustomed to democratic elections and to enable people to elect their desired candidates,” the PM said.     

He also said that although the second round causes additional expenses, “we can yield more benefits by allowing this precedent” that “will bring huge benefits to strengthening our country and its democratic consolidation.”

Apparently alluding to low voter turnout in the June 15 municipal elections, Garibashvili expressed hope that voters’ “motivation” will increase during the second round runoffs.

He said he’s sure that GD’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate Davit Narmania will win a runoff against UNM’s Nika Melia and become Tbilisi mayor. “It is a matter of time,” Garibashvili said.

“Our government will enter into Georgia’s modern history as the first government, which established tradition of free and fair elections. This is a victory for the entire country,” the PM said.

Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
21