Georgian PM says the Gov’t ensures free, democratic and competitive elections
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, October 20
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has addressed political parties, state institutions and the society regarding the upcoming October 21 local elections.
The PM made the statement on October 19 at the Cabinet session in the governmental administration. He said that pre-election period was calm and all electoral subjects had an opportunity to run free and peaceful campaigns, adding it means that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party will ensure the holding of “free and democratic, competitive elections.”
Kvirikashvili stated that “forged and violent elections should be forgotten once and for all”.
“Let's hold these elections in a manner that will represent yet another step towards reinforcement of truly European democracy in Georgia, leave the violent elections in the past and forget the word for past fraudulent, violent elections altogether,” the PM stated.
He said that the government has made significant steps during the last five years to transform Georgia into the country that it is now.
The PM called on state agencies not to give any reason to anyone about the use of administrative resources during the campaign.
Kvirikashvili also addressed the supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, saying the strength of the GD is in respecting different opinions.
“I believe that our population duly values this huge transformation which was implemented in our country. I am convinced that a democracy of completely different rank and level brought by GD will be duly valued by our society as it was the case in last few elections,” he added.
The PM called on the police and law enforcers to do their best to prevent any expression of violence during the elections.
He also called on the public to take part in the elections and express their position. According to Kvirikashvili, the October 21 local elections are of the utmost importance for the country and for a better future.
“We should gradually strengthen the relationship between the voters and the government's responsibility. This connection is the most important and this is the union that was created by our government. I am convinced that the upcoming elections serve as one more example of this," Kvirikshvili said.
During the upcoming October 21 local elections, 73 constituencies and 3,634 polling stations will function and receive the voters throughout Georgia.
In total, around 3,440,123 voters have been registered for the Saturday’s local elections.
