Snap elections shunned in Georgia, Citizens' Ioseliani says

18:41, 06.10.2021

European Parliament members’ assessment over the first round of Georgia’s 2021 local race is “acceptable” and “understandable” for the opposition Citizens party member Levan Ioseliani. “Election day was well-organized, election process much more transparent, much better than the previous one.”

However, Ioseliani deems the pre-election environment as “unacceptable” due to “intimidation, bribery, a non-competitive and unhealthy situation, which must be reconsidered.”

As to the snap elections, Ioseliani said, “this issue has been shunned.”

“Everyone sees it inside and outside the country. Focusing on snap elections affected small parties, except for the United National Movement and Georgian Dream, as big players benefited from their votes,” Ioseliani added.

MEPs Marina Kaljurand, Sven Mikser, and Viola von Cramon recognise that Georgia, a key partner of the European Union, conducted “a competitive and well-managed first round of the local elections on 2 October, despite the extremely polarised political environment and challenging epidemiological situation.”

By - Marika Kartozia

Politics

Citizens' party

European Parliament members

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