International observers have concluded that serious violations occurred during Sunday’s vote to choose municipal politicians across Georgia.
“Yesterday’s municipal elections in Georgia marked evident progress toward meeting international standards, but significant shortcomings remain to be addressed,” observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said at a press conference on Monday.
OSCE stated that during the vote, there had been “systematic irregularities” in some regions, including ballot box stuffing and procedural violations during vote counting.
The OSCE report also noted a lack electoral laws, or their implementation, a situation that favored the ruling party. Low levels of public confidence in the voting process also persisted, according to the OSCE.
International observers recorded serious voting fraud in the 2008 presidential elections as well when President Mikheil Saakashvili won his second, and final term, as president.
According to Georgia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC), over 3 million people were registered to vote in the municipal pole to elect members to 64 local councils. The turnout was about 49 percent, which is considered high in the former soviet republic of 4 million people.
Most eyes were on the mayoral race in the capital Tbilisi, an influential position that often serves as springboard to the presidency. The post is currently held by Georgian President Saakashvili’s ally Georgi “Gigi” Ugulava.
CEC officials declared Ugulava the winner of the mayoral race based on preliminary election results. So far, Ugulava has 55 percent of votes and his nearest rival, Irakli Alasania, a former ambassador to the United Nations, has 20 percent.
Although results will not be finalized until June 23, the CEC stated that returns from the remaining ballots would not significantly impact the outcome.
The American Embassy in Georgia said in a statement that it welcomed the improvement made by the government compared to past poles, but it also noted violations similar to the ones mentioned by OSCE, including excessive use of administration power.
The U.S. Embassy fielded 19 teams of observers throughout the country.
Opposition politicians accuse the president’s party of authoritarianism, monopolizing power, and pressuring voters, according to News Georgia.
The elections are being seen by analysts as a test for Saakashvili’s ruling party. The reputation of the pro-American leader suffered damaged when the European Union found him responsible for the seven-day war with Russia in 2008.
In August that year, Saakashvili launched a military offensive against South Ossetia to re-establish control over the breakaway region. Russia then intervened on behalf of South Ossetia leading to the war.
“Yesterday’s municipal elections in Georgia marked evident progress toward meeting international standards, but significant shortcomings remain to be addressed,” observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said at a press conference on Monday.
OSCE stated that during the vote, there had been “systematic irregularities” in some regions, including ballot box stuffing and procedural violations during vote counting.
The OSCE report also noted a lack electoral laws, or their implementation, a situation that favored the ruling party. Low levels of public confidence in the voting process also persisted, according to the OSCE.
International observers recorded serious voting fraud in the 2008 presidential elections as well when President Mikheil Saakashvili won his second, and final term, as president.
According to Georgia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC), over 3 million people were registered to vote in the municipal pole to elect members to 64 local councils. The turnout was about 49 percent, which is considered high in the former soviet republic of 4 million people.
Most eyes were on the mayoral race in the capital Tbilisi, an influential position that often serves as springboard to the presidency. The post is currently held by Georgian President Saakashvili’s ally Georgi “Gigi” Ugulava.
CEC officials declared Ugulava the winner of the mayoral race based on preliminary election results. So far, Ugulava has 55 percent of votes and his nearest rival, Irakli Alasania, a former ambassador to the United Nations, has 20 percent.
Although results will not be finalized until June 23, the CEC stated that returns from the remaining ballots would not significantly impact the outcome.
The American Embassy in Georgia said in a statement that it welcomed the improvement made by the government compared to past poles, but it also noted violations similar to the ones mentioned by OSCE, including excessive use of administration power.
The U.S. Embassy fielded 19 teams of observers throughout the country.
Opposition politicians accuse the president’s party of authoritarianism, monopolizing power, and pressuring voters, according to News Georgia.
The elections are being seen by analysts as a test for Saakashvili’s ruling party. The reputation of the pro-American leader suffered damaged when the European Union found him responsible for the seven-day war with Russia in 2008.
In August that year, Saakashvili launched a military offensive against South Ossetia to re-establish control over the breakaway region. Russia then intervened on behalf of South Ossetia leading to the war.
