MPs and the diplomats share their viewpoint on 2020 elections in Georgia
By Khatia Bzhalava
Tuesday, June 16
At a meeting with the representatives of the diplomatic corps, the MPs discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections. As the PM, Giorgi Gakharia stated, even though holding elections in times of pandemic is a serious challenge, everything will be done to assure that the threat of spreading the virus in elections is minimal.
“We are having elections in a couple of months and the campaign including agitations, competition between parties and meeting with people is expected to have its mobility. Elections against the current background is a tough challenge, as citizens have to arrive at the polling stations and justify their choices. We take extremely important steps in this direction to cut down any epidemiological threats and we will definitely succeed, ” Gakharia stated.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, David Zalkaniani, all the international observers, who are engaged in the process of monitoring, were sent invitations.
“We have already sent invitations to all the international monitors. OSCE, Council of Europe, EU, European Parliament, parliamentary assemblies and all the main organisations, which will conduct monitoring on the election are already invited. I am certain that these elections will be another confirmation of our democratic institution's maturity and of the fact that the path to the European and Euro-Atlantic integration is irreversible,” said Zalkaniani.
German Ambassador to Georgia, Hubert Knirsch, who attended the meeting between the Prime Minister and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia, noted that together with his colleagues, he is actively observing an ongoing process of constitutional amendments.
"We have high hopes that Georgia will have an even better electoral system for the October elections. We expect democratic competition between political parties, which will announce their election programs and nominate candidates. I hope that this election will be a triumph of democracy," said Hubert Knirsch.
U.S. Ambassador Kelly C. Degnan reported to the journalists that this election is a prospect for Georgia to prove to the world one more time that the country has reached progress and every other election is better than the previous one. She believes in the importance of this election to which a lot of attention will be paid. She expresses her certainty that the environment will be fair and reliable.
The precise date of the elections is still unknown and up to the epidemiological situation in the country. For now, it is scheduled to be held by October 2020, however, if the second wave breaks out, the elections might be postponed.
