On October 2, 2021, Georgia held municipal elections. The elections, widely perceived by the EU and the U.S. as a test for the central government’s current level of public support and its capacity to organize the scrutiny under transparent and democratic conditions, went, overall, well. From the outset, Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili declared that he was “confident that these elections will be a step forward in consolidating democracy as we will spare no effort to ensure a safe and free environment for our voters”.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) noted in its statement of preliminary findings and conclusions issued on October 3 that: “The 2 October local elections were generally well administered but held against the backdrop of a protracted political crisis and characterized by hardened polarization. Contestants were able to campaign freely in a competitive environment that was, however, marred by widespread and consistent allegations of intimidation, vote buying, pressure on candidates and voters, and an unlevel playing field. The legal framework is generally conducive to democratic elections and preparations for the elections were transparent and professionally managed.”
The elections were well administered, contestants were capable to campaign freely in a competitive environment.
Such a statement helps draw two immediate reflections: first, the elections were well administered, contestants were capable to campaign freely in a competitive environment, the legal framework is, in Georgia, conducive to democratic elections and preparations for elections were transparent and professionally managed. All the conditions or characteristics enumerated above are to be ensured by the government, and, in this case, they were well managed. Organizing countrywide elections is never an easy exercise, albeit during pandemic times like the ones we go through now. On the other side, a hardened polarization and widespread and consistent allegations of intimidation and pressures were made. Moreover, provocations were noted by other international observers present in Tbilisi. And, of course, the former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili decided to return from his Ukrainian exile just in time for elections to, in his own words, galvanize people: “Tomorrow we must — lots of people — get out on the streets and win this election”. A general rule of thumb is that, in democracy, elections are not won on the streets but within the electoral process by voters.
This was on October 1. Saakashvili was arrested the same day as he faced a definitive sentence of six years’ imprisonment on corruption charges and embezzlement. While he considers himself a “political case”, the BBC notes that “the former president has, for the most part, lived in Ukraine since leaving Georgia. He renounced his Georgian citizenship in 2015 when he became governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region. Three years later, a Georgian court convicted him of abusing his office and sentenced him to six years in prison”. That trip back to the past very likely fueled even more polarization in a society that needs much less of it and much more consensus and common ground.
Georgia needs more political stability and not more polarization.
Kelly C. Degnan, U.S. ambassador to Georgia
Her Excellency, U.S. ambassador to Georgia, Kelly C. Degnan, said on October 2: “Talking about yesterday isn’t as important as talking about going forward. We want people to be focused on the election, on the issues. I think Georgia needs more political stability and not more polarization. There are really important issues that this country needs to deal with like jobs and high prices and COVID, education, water, roads. We really hope that after these elections, Georgia’s political leaders are going to get back to work on the issues that are the priorities for the Georgian public. Mr Saakashvili’s case will be a test of the Georgian judicial system, and we’ll be watching to see if the case is handled impartially and in accordance with Georgian law and Georgia’s international obligations. That’s what we would hope to see going forward.”
In other words, a united society, respecting long-held democratic values. And a government continuing to work for its people — focusing on necessary economic, social and legal reforms while developing essential infrastructure, growing the economy, creating more jobs, promoting sound fiscal and monetary policies as well as investing in its people: in their health; education; and, ultimately, their European future. European Council President Charles Michel, tweeted in the same vein: “I commend all Georgians who made their voices heard in the first round of the local elections. Essential that the country’s focus now return to in-depth structural reforms, as set out in the 19 April Agreement, notably in the rule of law and judicial spheres.”
It is now time for the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his government to do just that: concentrate on in-depth structural reforms, economic, social and judicial; and continue the commendable work done to benefit the people of Georgia and bring them ever closer to the European Union. They can now do that, as the party of Garibashvili, the Georgian Dream, won an impressive 46.7 percent of votes, which, if confirmed wherever the second round of elections needs to take place on October 30, represents a clear mandate of trust from the people of Georgia.
Source: Politico
