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EDM: Int'l Observers Assess Georgia Presidential Election Positively

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  • EDM: Int'l Observers Assess Georgia Presidential Election Positively

    Eurasia Daily Monitor

    January 7, 2008 -- Volume 5, Issue 1



    INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ASSESS GEORGIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
    POSITIVELY

    by Vladimir Socor

    International observers' assessment of Georgia's January 5
    presidential election is substantially positive. More than 1,000
    international observers, long-term and short-term, were on hand. This is
    almost certainly an all-time high ratio to a country's population for any
    election in former Soviet-ruled countries. The Georgian government and
    parliament had appealed to international organizations and parliaments to
    send the maximum possible number of observers to assess the integrity of the
    process.

    The observation missions of the OSCE/ODIHR (Office of Democratic
    Institutions and Human Rights), the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly, the
    Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), and the European
    Parliament issued their joint Statement of Preliminary Findings and
    Conclusions on January 6. It assessed the election as `in essence consistent
    with most OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for
    democratic elections ... This election was the first genuinely competitive
    presidential election, which enabled the Georgian people to express their
    political choice.'

    The joint conclusions assessed Georgia's recently amended electoral
    code as adequate; the operations of the Central Election Commission (CEC)
    and local electoral commissions, as open and transparent; and the Georgian
    authorities' attitude toward the observer missions as cooperative. The
    assessment further commended the voter education campaign through national
    media and the training of election officials; the accreditation of a large
    number of domestic non-party observer groups; the publication of election
    material in the languages of Georgia's ethnic minorities; and Parliament
    Chair Nino Burjanadze's (interim head of state during the campaign)
    initiative to create an Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections
    to liaise with observer organizations and address concerns raised.

    At the same time the assessment noted `significant challenges that
    need to be addressed urgently.' As a substantive shortcoming it identified
    the `sometimes blurred distinction' between state activities and the
    Saakashvili campaign, which `contributed to an inequitable campaign
    environment.' As procedural and organizational shortcomings, it mentioned
    inconsistencies in the finger-inking procedure (a safeguard against multiple
    voting) and poor organization of the vote counting. Slow counting in some
    precincts, as well as snowfall causing power outages, is delaying the
    announcement of the final countrywide returns by the CEC.

    The joint conclusions acknowledged Georgia's `diverse media
    environment, generally enabling freedom of expression and offering voters a
    wide range of political views. ... Talk shows, televised debates, and
    allocation of free airtime enabled voters to become familiar with candidates
    ' platforms.' Implicitly criticizing pro-government television channels for
    coverage slanted toward National Movement candidate Mikheil Saakashvili, the
    assessment also noted that the pro-opposition Imedi Television was abandoned
    by part of its staff and closed temporarily by its management in connection
    with the coup plot of Imedi's owner, Badri Patarkatsishvili.

    Georgia's government pledged on January 6 to fully and effectively
    address the concerns in the observers' preliminary conclusions and final
    reports. Those final reports are normally due in two months after an
    election. In Georgia's case they will coincide with the campaign for
    parliamentary elections, which are likely to be held in April -- unless the
    opposition derails that calendar by rejecting the presidential election.

    Fixated (by long-established practice and format) on the electoral
    process as such, the four organizations' assessment had nothing to say about
    presidential candidate Patarkatsishvili's attempt to hijack the election and
    the country through his wealth and ultimately through violence. While noting
    that the Saakashvili campaign was often combined with social welfare
    programs, the joint assessment ignored Patarkatsishvili's campaign promises
    to spend more than $1 billion of his own wealth for social programs, if
    elected. It equally ignored main opposition candidate Levan Gachechiladze's
    promise to disburse that amount for social programs from his ally
    Patarkatsishvili, if Gachechiladze were elected president.

    Noting the campaign's `highly polarized political environment,' the
    assessment does not mention the opposition leaders' resort to the language
    of hatred and politics of brinkmanship in this electoral campaign -- indeed
    >From the outset of its demonstrations to force anticipated elections. By
    contrast, the Saakashvili campaign largely reflected its protagonist's
    personal style, jovial and optimistic. Throughout these events, Western
    representatives in general (including electoral observers) made no serious
    attempt to discourage the opposition from using inflammatory language and
    threats.

    The hate factor among small parties' leaders more than any other
    single factor distorted this campaign, setting it apart from all the
    elections held in former Soviet-ruled countries in the last decade. As Davit
    Darchiashvili, head of the Open Society-Georgia Foundation, observes, hate
    speech is a problem of political culture in Georgian society, reflecting
    immaturity of parts of its political class (Mze TV, January 6). Meanwhile,
    opposition's supporters behaved correctly despite their leaders' incendiary
    rhetoric during the campaign. However, the risk of destabilization will be
    high in the coming days.

    (International Election Observation Mission [OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE/PA,
    PACE, European Parliament], `Statement of Preliminary Findings and
    Conclusions,' January 6; Civil Georgia, Messenger, Rustavi-2 TV, January
    5-7)


    --Vladimir Socor

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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