Georgia: Congress contributes to post-electoral conference in Tbilisi

Tbilisi (Georgia), 16 September 2014 - The Congress’ evaluation of the local elections observed on 15 June 2014 was among the contributions presented at a post-electoral conference ("The 2014 Local Elections: Lessons Learned and Steps Ahead") organised on 16 September 2014 by the Council of Europe in co-operation with USAID, the Swiss government and IFES. Congress member Pearl Pedergnana (Switzerland, SOC) summarised major findings and recommendations resulting from the observation mission and which will be debated and adopted at the 27th Congress Plenary Session on 15 October.

She qualified the overall organisational framework and the atmosphere on Election Day as positive and peaceful and welcomed, in particular, the direct election of all Mayors and Gamgebelis (town managers) on the basis of a 50%-threshold.

At the same time, she pointed to areas of further improvement including a more balanced composition of the electoral commissions, the nomination of independent candidates by initiative groups and the role of the Inter- Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF).

She stressed the need to improve the involvement of women in politics and to avoid violent action and aggressive rhetoric during electoral campaigns. Last not least, she invited the Georgian authorities to address specific issues in the Electoral Code and intensify training of electoral staff, in particular with regard to the counting process.

Statement by Pearl Pedergnana

Council of Europe Press Release

Local elections in Georgia in June 2014 – Preliminary conclusions

Draft Congress Report CPL(27)