TBILISI, 27 October - Although voters had a choice of 18 lists of candidates and candidates were generally free to campaign, Georgia's parliamentary elections were marked by entrenched polarisation and concerns about recently adopted legislation and its impact on fundamental freedoms and civil society, as well as highly divisive campaign rhetoric and widespread reports of voter pressure, the statement international observers.
A joint observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PA COE), the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) and the European Parliament (EP) noted deepening political divisions as well as a significant imbalance in financial resources, and the numerous advantages seized by the ruling party contributed to an already uneven playing field. In the run-up to the elections, numerous civil society organisations reported on the stigmatising impact of the 'Foreign Influence Transparency Law', along with cases of attacks and intimidation. This, along with potential sanctions for non-compliance with the law, affected their ability to carry out their work without undue pressure.
"The imbalance of financial resources, the divisive atmosphere of the campaign and recent legislative changes have been of considerable concern throughout the election process," He told Pascal Allizard, Special Coordinator and Head of the OSCE Short-Term Observer Mission. "Yet the engagement that was evident on Election Day - active voter participation, a strong presence of citizen and party observers, and a rich diversity of voices - shows that the system is still growing and evolving, with democratic vitality still being built."
Observers found the legal framework to be adequate for holding democratic elections. However, some earlier positive changes have been reversed by recent amendments and several long-standing recommendations remain unaddressed. While earlier changes were adopted after inclusive public debate, frequent revisions, including a number made shortly before elections and without broad cross-party support, have undermined its stability and raised concerns about the potential for changes to be exploited for political gain. At the same time, the effectiveness of campaign finance oversight has been undermined by limited enforcement and concerns about the impartiality and political instrumentalisation of the oversight body.
"This election was marked by a highly polarised political and media landscape, hate speech against the opposition and civil society, and antagonism towards the office of the president," He told Iulian Bulai, head of the PACE delegation. "The quality of the election reflected the pre-election period. Given the incidents of vote-buying, the widespread atmosphere of coercion and party-organised intimidation before and during the elections, especially in rural areas, and questions about the impartiality of state institutions, we express our concern about the electoral conditions, especially the uneven playing field, which undermines confidence in the outcome and explains the reactions to the election results. These issues must be addressed by the authorities."
Despite the constitutional obligation to ensure gender equality, legal changes made this year have challenged this goal and led to a significant decline in the number of women on party lists for these elections. Party manifestos lacked women-specific messages and few women appeared in campaigns. At the same time, women politicians in Georgia continue to face deep-rooted stereotypes and even violence.
"While we applaud the largely peaceful elections, the decline in the number of women on the ballot due to the abolition of gender quotas is a barrier to diversity, especially as women's active participation at the polls highlights their crucial role and the demand for greater representation," She told Pia Kauma, Head of the OSCE Delegation to the PA. "Given the recent passage of the Foreign Influence Transparency Act, I hope that its implications for freedom of association and expression will be reconsidered in the next parliament to protect the vital work of civil society in Georgia and ensure that all voices are heard."
The electoral administration organised the elections efficiently, but public perceptions of its impartiality were damaged by concerns about recent changes to its nomination and decision-making processes, as well as perceived links between members without formal political affiliation and the ruling party. For the first time, electronic devices were used in most polling stations, and the electoral administration made considerable efforts to educate voters about their use before election day. Election Day was generally well organised and orderly in terms of procedures, but was characterised by a tense atmosphere. The secrecy of the ballot was often compromised and there were reports of intimidation and pressure on voters.
"Respect for the shared values of individual freedom, democracy and the rule of law is a fundamental condition of NATO membership. These elections were another critical test for Georgian democracy and there will be further consequences." He told Faik Öztrak, head of the NATO PA delegation. "It is now my duty to report on these elections - from the administration of the elections to the intimidation and pressure on voters - so that the Assembly can explore how best to support the Georgian people who have shown time and time again that they want a democratic Georgia in the EU and NATO."
The campaign was competitive, if subdued, but the language and images used were very divisive. During the campaign, ruling party officials publicly stated that they intended to ban key opposition parties after the elections. Observers also noted reports of intimidation, coercion and pressure on voters, particularly public sector workers and other groups, raising concerns about the ability of some voters to cast their ballots without fear of retribution.
"We continue to express our deep concern about the retreat from democracy in Georgia. The conduct of yesterday's elections is unfortunately proof of this." He told Antonio López-Istúriz White, head of the EP delegation. "We will continue to monitor the situation in Georgia closely to see if the next government decides to adapt to EU values and standards and reverse the negative trends of recent months."
The Georgian media scene is diverse but highly polarised and dependent on funding from political entities. Media monitoring by the observer mission showed a clear political bias in all media, while the legal obligations of impartial reporting on commercial television were ignored. Although public television coverage of candidates was mostly positive or neutral in tone, it devoted significantly more time to the ruling party than to other parties. Moreover, after a series of recent attacks, intimidation and coercion, the safety of journalists remains a major concern.
"The campaign for the parliamentary elections in Georgia did offer voters a wide choice, which was good to see, but this is not enough to ensure that the elections were in line with international democratic principles," He told Eoghan Murphywho led the ODIHR election observation mission. "The deep polarisation in the country, the disproportionate pressure on voters and civil society, and the tensions we saw on election day show that there is still much work to be done."
The International Election Observation Mission to the parliamentary elections in Georgia consisted of 529 observers from 42 countries, comprising 380 experts, long-term and short-term observers sent by ODIHR, 60 MPs and staff from the OSCE PS, 39 from the PACE PS, 38 from the NATO PS and 12 from the EP.
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