Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria suggested that the representatives of political forces should discuss whether October 2 local elections could be held in such a grave epidemiological situation in the country when Georgia reports 60-70 deaths from coronavirus a day.

Many opposition parties in the country echoed the initiative. Representative of the biggest opposition United National Movement (UNM) party, Khatia Dekanoidze, said the UNM is ready and will consider all options. At the same time, Dekanoidze placed the responsibility for surging infections and finding a way out to the government.

Same did another opposition MP Tamar Kordzaia, saying the President of Georgia, who has set the date of the elections, has the authority to postpone the ballots, having added she would do that if she were president.

Giorgi Vashadze from the Strategy Aghmashenebli party claimed the Covid-19 related regulations have to tighten and discussions over the adjournment of the election should begin as handling the critical epidemiological situation is a national objective. “The government does not care about the health of the people and is now pointing in different directions,” Sergo Chikhladze, Strategy Aghmashenebeli member, stated.

The ruling party members see the postponement of the local election in a different way. The Georgian Dream MP Gia Volski sees the Public Defender as playing the role of the UNM’s external speaker.

Irakli Kadagishvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues, believes speculation about epidemiological developments has political purposes. According to him, the opposition has started a campaign somehow to achieve the postponement of the elections. “There is a severe epidemic in the country, but at the same time, this situation could change if citizens make the right decisions and engage in mass vaccination,” he said.

Mikheil Sarjveladze, a majority MP, said the Public Defender’s statement befits the interests of the opposition, which has no chance to win the upcoming polls.

Head of the Task Force under the Interagency Coordination Council Giorgi Ghibradze assured the government is working closely with the Central Election Commission (CEC) to ensure that the October 2 local polls were as safe as possible.

Georgia reported 5 924 coronavirus cases, 4 777 recoveries, and 60 deaths on Tuesday.