The News in Brief
Wednesday, October 12
The Republican Party is not going to go to sleep - Vakhtang Khmaladze
“The Republican Party is not going to go to sleep,” the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, Republican Vakhtang Khmaladze, told reporters.
According to him, the Republican Party will continue its political activities and it will let the public know how its plans in the nearest future.
"The election results need to be analyzed. Our actions, mistakes and the causes of our loss also need to be analyzed. We are not people who blame only external factors.
“The results are caused by our own and others’ actions. So, we need to analyze everything, after which we will inform the public about how we will continue our activities. Making emotional decisions is very dangerous. So, we need to calm down and then we will make conclusions,” said Vakhtang Khmaladze. (IPN)
Local By-Election Results
Along with parliamentary elections and elections for local legislative body in Adjara, local by-elections for gamgebeli (head of municipality) and mayoral offices were held in six localities on October 8 with races going into a second round in four of them between GDDG and UNM candidates.
GDDG candidates won outright victories in the first round in the race for gamgebeli of the Chiatura and Tsalenjikha municipalities; Zurab Kupatadze won with 51% of votes, and Besik Partsvania with 58.7%, respectively. The UNM did not field its candidates for gamgebeli in these two municipalities.
In a mayoral race in the town of Akhaltsikhe in Samtskhe-Javakheti region, UNM’s Irakli Ereklishvili has a 9-point lead – 46% to 37% – over his closest rival, GDDG’s Vladimer Zedgenidze; the two will face each other in the second round runoff as no candidate received more than half of the votes in the first round.
In the race for gamgebeli of Zugdidi municipality in Samegrelo region, UNM’s Besik Gabunia has a slight lead over GDDG’s Lasha Gogia – 45.59% to 43.07% – in the first round. The two will face each other in the runoff.
The race for Bolnisi gamgebeli in the Kvemo Kartli region also went into the second round between GDDG’s Davit Sherazadishvili (49.05%) and UNM’s Tristan Beridze (30.7%).
In Kharagauli in the Imereti region, GDDG’s Nikoloz Topuridze (49.87%) will face UNM’s Tamaz Lomidze (23.18%) in the second round of gamgebeli race.
Those elected in these by-elections will remain in office before the local elections of October 2017. (Civil.ge)
Germany, Latvia confirm transparency and fairness of Georgia’s elections
Germany and Latvia are congratulating Georgia on "the successful first round of its Parliamentary Elections”.
Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier released a statement yesterday congratulating Georgia on hosting open and fair Parliamentary Elections, noting this was a test of democracy for the country.
Georgia has once again demonstrated maturity and functionality of its young democracy,” said Steinmeier.
The Foreign Minister noted international observers agreed the elections were carried out transparently and fairly in Georgia.
According to the judgment of international observers including the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Europe, the elections were well organised and have almost met our European standards of fairness and transparency everywhere,” he added.
Steinmeier noted high international standards must be maintained for the runoff elections.
Georgian voters have clearly shown they continue to endorse a determined policy of rapprochement with Europe and the associated reforms in a large majority.
“I am looking forward to the second round of Parliamentary Elections and the subsequent formation of a government with the new Georgian government confidently closely and proven,” Steinmeier said.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia also commended Georgia on hosting the Parliamentary Elections in Georgia, for the fact that "a democratic process was ensured, the elections were well-administered, political competition was present, and fundamental freedoms were observed”.
“The election day was largely peaceful and the counting of votes is taking place in line with international standards,” said the Latvian Ministry's statement.
Ahead of the second round of elections, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for peace to continue and it urged all political parties to refrain from engaging in confrontation and to demonstrate respect for democratic principles and the will of the Georgian people.
Representatives from the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission all observed Saturday's elections in Georgia.
The statement also stressed Latvia would continue supporting the building of close relations between Georgia and the European Union, and Georgia and NATO. (Agenda.ge)
“The Republican Party is not going to go to sleep,” the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, Republican Vakhtang Khmaladze, told reporters.
According to him, the Republican Party will continue its political activities and it will let the public know how its plans in the nearest future.
"The election results need to be analyzed. Our actions, mistakes and the causes of our loss also need to be analyzed. We are not people who blame only external factors.
“The results are caused by our own and others’ actions. So, we need to analyze everything, after which we will inform the public about how we will continue our activities. Making emotional decisions is very dangerous. So, we need to calm down and then we will make conclusions,” said Vakhtang Khmaladze. (IPN)
Local By-Election Results
Along with parliamentary elections and elections for local legislative body in Adjara, local by-elections for gamgebeli (head of municipality) and mayoral offices were held in six localities on October 8 with races going into a second round in four of them between GDDG and UNM candidates.
GDDG candidates won outright victories in the first round in the race for gamgebeli of the Chiatura and Tsalenjikha municipalities; Zurab Kupatadze won with 51% of votes, and Besik Partsvania with 58.7%, respectively. The UNM did not field its candidates for gamgebeli in these two municipalities.
In a mayoral race in the town of Akhaltsikhe in Samtskhe-Javakheti region, UNM’s Irakli Ereklishvili has a 9-point lead – 46% to 37% – over his closest rival, GDDG’s Vladimer Zedgenidze; the two will face each other in the second round runoff as no candidate received more than half of the votes in the first round.
In the race for gamgebeli of Zugdidi municipality in Samegrelo region, UNM’s Besik Gabunia has a slight lead over GDDG’s Lasha Gogia – 45.59% to 43.07% – in the first round. The two will face each other in the runoff.
The race for Bolnisi gamgebeli in the Kvemo Kartli region also went into the second round between GDDG’s Davit Sherazadishvili (49.05%) and UNM’s Tristan Beridze (30.7%).
In Kharagauli in the Imereti region, GDDG’s Nikoloz Topuridze (49.87%) will face UNM’s Tamaz Lomidze (23.18%) in the second round of gamgebeli race.
Those elected in these by-elections will remain in office before the local elections of October 2017. (Civil.ge)
Germany, Latvia confirm transparency and fairness of Georgia’s elections
Germany and Latvia are congratulating Georgia on "the successful first round of its Parliamentary Elections”.
Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier released a statement yesterday congratulating Georgia on hosting open and fair Parliamentary Elections, noting this was a test of democracy for the country.
Georgia has once again demonstrated maturity and functionality of its young democracy,” said Steinmeier.
The Foreign Minister noted international observers agreed the elections were carried out transparently and fairly in Georgia.
According to the judgment of international observers including the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Europe, the elections were well organised and have almost met our European standards of fairness and transparency everywhere,” he added.
Steinmeier noted high international standards must be maintained for the runoff elections.
Georgian voters have clearly shown they continue to endorse a determined policy of rapprochement with Europe and the associated reforms in a large majority.
“I am looking forward to the second round of Parliamentary Elections and the subsequent formation of a government with the new Georgian government confidently closely and proven,” Steinmeier said.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia also commended Georgia on hosting the Parliamentary Elections in Georgia, for the fact that "a democratic process was ensured, the elections were well-administered, political competition was present, and fundamental freedoms were observed”.
“The election day was largely peaceful and the counting of votes is taking place in line with international standards,” said the Latvian Ministry's statement.
Ahead of the second round of elections, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for peace to continue and it urged all political parties to refrain from engaging in confrontation and to demonstrate respect for democratic principles and the will of the Georgian people.
Representatives from the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission all observed Saturday's elections in Georgia.
The statement also stressed Latvia would continue supporting the building of close relations between Georgia and the European Union, and Georgia and NATO. (Agenda.ge)