TI Georgia Reports Misuse of Administrative Resources in 2024 Elections
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) released an interim report on the misuse of administrative resources ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. Covering the period from July 1 to October 15, the report alleges that the ruling Georgian Dream party has blurred the lines between state functions and party interests, raising concerns about the fairness of the election process.
The report highlights several key issues, starting with the passage of the controversial foreign influence law. TI Georgia notes that despite widespread protests and criticism from Western partners, the law was pushed through, restricting freedoms of expression and association, and impacting electoral fairness. Additionally, changes to the Central Election Commission (CEC) rules allowed Georgian Dream to appoint members without opposition involvement, a move that was criticized by international organizations.
The watchdog also points to the removal of gender quotas for parliamentary and local elections, which was pushed through despite a presidential veto. The expansion of the Anti-Corruption Bureau's powers was another significant concern. According to TI Georgia, the bureau can now cancel party registrations and access sensitive data, which could violate privacy laws and the constitution.
TI Georgia's report also focuses on the misuse of executive resources. It accuses the Communications Commission of harassing media outlets critical of the government by imposing heavy fines for refusing to air certain campaign ads. The report also documents violence against opposition party members, including threats, voter intimidation, and vote-buying.
In terms of financial resources, the watchdog notes that Georgian Dream used public funds to support large-scale projects that coincided with their election campaign, including multi-million-dollar social aid programs and infrastructure developments. These efforts, TI Georgia argues, gave the ruling party an unfair advantage.
The report concludes with several recommendations, calling for the government to ensure stability in election legislation, avoid last-minute amendments, and investigate allegations of voter manipulation and violence against opposition parties.
