About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
OSCE Election Observers’ Interim Report
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 26 Sep.'16 / 18:44

Campaign activities for Georgia’s October 8 parliamentary elections have so far “been limited and mainly conducted through rallies, small community meetings and door-to-door canvassing,” a long-term election observation mission from OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its interim report.

The report, which covers a period between August 30 and September 19, says that “campaign messages mainly focused on socio-economic issues, the development of infrastructure, agriculture and Euro-Atlantic integration.”

“The elections are taking place in an environment influenced by the country’s poor economic performance along with the public disillusionment with the political elite,” the report reads.

OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, which was launched on August 30, consists of a 12-member core team based in Tbilisi and 26 long-term observers deployed throughout the country from 7 September.

The interim report says that “a few incidents of skirmishes between campaign staff and damage to party offices and campaign materials have been reported.”

It says that the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party and opposition United National Movement (UNM) “are the most active and visible among the contestants.”

“The tone of the campaign is confrontational, with both the UNM and GD accusing the other of exacerbating the confrontational situation in the electoral process. A number of incidents such as skirmishes between campaign staff, damage to party offices and campaign materials have been reported to the OSCE/ODIHR EOM and covered in the media,” reads the report.
 
“Although many investigations have been opened, several opposition parties expressed a deep mistrust in law enforcement institutions and the State Security Service. The OSCE/ODIHR EOM has received a number of allegations regarding the misuse of administrative resource, pressure on public employees, including requirements to attend campaign events and intimidation of campaign staff,” it says.

“The political tension between the GD and the UNM, including a violent confrontation in Kortskheli during the May 2016 local by-election, also negatively affects the atmosphere for elections,” reads the report.

According to the report, election “stakeholders express confidence” in the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) “professionalism and performance.”

“However, in the pre-election period, numerous allegations were made, mainly about DECs [District Election Commissions] not acting impartially when appointing lower-level commission members [in the Precinct Election Commissions - PECs]. The election officials made efforts to increase the transparency of PEC recruitment,” reads the report.

On media environment, the report says that “while presenting a diversity of views, media outlets, especially broadcast media, are often perceived as polarized along political lines.”

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.
110