The News in Brief
Friday, March 22
ISFED: Circle of public officials who can interfere in pre-election campaign should be narrowed
“The circle of public officials, who have an unrestricted right to interfere in the pre-election campaign, should be narrowed in order to restrict the use of an administrative resource,” - reads the final monitoring report on the presidential elections 2018 issued by the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED).
The organization believes that prohibition of campaigning during working hours should apply to persons employed in non-commercial legal entities and other budgetary organizations, including teachers and other staff of educational institutions.
A significant part of the report and recommendations is dedicated to the gaps in the process of reviewing complaints. According to the organization, it is necessary that the norms of the Election Code that regulate election disputes be revised and vague provisions be specified.
“When settling electoral disputes, the commissions should not rely only on the alleged violator’s explanations, which are used for justification of violations. The election administration should stop the practice of narrowly defining the law and act in accordance with the objective of the law when reviewing a case. In addition, the administration should strictly react to the conflict of interest among members of the election commission,"- reads the report.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) had 1030 accredited observers throughout Georgia during the 2018 presidential election. (IPN)
EU rolls out its rural development support in Georgia by launching a new project in Tsalka Municipality
The European Union officially launched a new rural development project in the Tsalka Municipality of Georgia.
The new “EMBRACE Tsalka” project aims to provide support to smallholders, entrepreneurs, women, youth and other local actors by improving access to knowledge and innovation.
It will also aim to introduce best practices and help create public-private partnerships and business linkages, as well as generate new employment opportunities by utilizing the development potential of the area.
The project is to be implemented under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) by the EU’s partner organization CENN, in partnership with the Georgian Farmers’ Association and German partner organization the Institute for Rural Development Research.
The total budget of the project is ˆ2.4 million. It follows on from the earlier EU-supported rural development actions under ENPARD in the Borjomi, Lagodekhi, Kazbegi, Keda, Khulo, Dedoplistskaro, Tetritskaro and Akhalkalaki municipalities.
This year, the EU is launching rural development projects in four new municipalities, including Tsalka, Akhmeta, Tskaltubo, and Mestia. (Euneighbours.eu)
“The circle of public officials, who have an unrestricted right to interfere in the pre-election campaign, should be narrowed in order to restrict the use of an administrative resource,” - reads the final monitoring report on the presidential elections 2018 issued by the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED).
The organization believes that prohibition of campaigning during working hours should apply to persons employed in non-commercial legal entities and other budgetary organizations, including teachers and other staff of educational institutions.
A significant part of the report and recommendations is dedicated to the gaps in the process of reviewing complaints. According to the organization, it is necessary that the norms of the Election Code that regulate election disputes be revised and vague provisions be specified.
“When settling electoral disputes, the commissions should not rely only on the alleged violator’s explanations, which are used for justification of violations. The election administration should stop the practice of narrowly defining the law and act in accordance with the objective of the law when reviewing a case. In addition, the administration should strictly react to the conflict of interest among members of the election commission,"- reads the report.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) had 1030 accredited observers throughout Georgia during the 2018 presidential election. (IPN)
EU rolls out its rural development support in Georgia by launching a new project in Tsalka Municipality
The European Union officially launched a new rural development project in the Tsalka Municipality of Georgia.
The new “EMBRACE Tsalka” project aims to provide support to smallholders, entrepreneurs, women, youth and other local actors by improving access to knowledge and innovation.
It will also aim to introduce best practices and help create public-private partnerships and business linkages, as well as generate new employment opportunities by utilizing the development potential of the area.
The project is to be implemented under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) by the EU’s partner organization CENN, in partnership with the Georgian Farmers’ Association and German partner organization the Institute for Rural Development Research.
The total budget of the project is ˆ2.4 million. It follows on from the earlier EU-supported rural development actions under ENPARD in the Borjomi, Lagodekhi, Kazbegi, Keda, Khulo, Dedoplistskaro, Tetritskaro and Akhalkalaki municipalities.
This year, the EU is launching rural development projects in four new municipalities, including Tsalka, Akhmeta, Tskaltubo, and Mestia. (Euneighbours.eu)