Georgia elections dominated by National level rhetoric overshadowing local concerns, Elections were generally well administered but complaints of voter and candidate intimidation remained, NDI says.
„According to an analysis of Georgia’s October 2021 municipal elections issued today by the National Democratic Institute (NDI or the Institute), while the elections were generally well administered, deep flaws in the electoral and, significantly, the political environment, adversely affected the process.
The municipal elections took place in the context of a protracted political impasse in the aftermath of the 2020 parliamentary elections and were seen by many as a litmus test for Georgia’s democratic path.
While the municipal elections are typically the occasion for citizens to focus on local concerns and community leadership, the events of the previous year, including an expectation that snap parliamentary elections would be called if the ruling party did not reach 43 percent of the vote, raised the political stakes for all parties. Harsh rhetoric and exchanges of insults dominated the campaign period, while the focus on national-level narratives overshadowed local-level concerns.
The responsibility for public skepticism is shared across the political spectrum as partisan gains appear to have been prioritized over the needs of the Georgian public.
Public faith in democratic institutions and processes continues to be undermined by the approach of political actors before, during, and after elections. It is a political imperative that, in the period between elections, elected representatives fulfill their responsibility to represent the interests of voters. Those who occupy the seats of government bear particular responsibility to bring about inclusive, pluralistic exchange, which is essential to responsive governance that improves people’s lives. Good faith efforts to work across the political divide and internal political reflection are required to ensure public confidence in the democratic political process ahead of the next electoral cycle“, NDI said.
