As Georgia approaches the nationwide October 2nd Municipal Elections, the country will be hitting another democratic milestone. The Georgian Dream-led government has held six nationwide elections that were judged free and fair by international observers: presidential (2013 & 2018), municipal (2014 & 2017), and parliamentary (2016 & 2020) and there is every expectation that this upcoming election will continue this positive trend.
Leading up to October 2nd, the Georgian government has instituted a series of reforms as specified in the Charles Michel Agreement to make elections more transparent, pluralistic, and fair. Among the reforms: clear criteria for ballot recounts have been defined; stricter regulations on misuse of administrative resources and easier procedures for appeals were introduced; the Central Election Commission (CEC) composition was overhauled to allow a more pluralistic composition; and legislation was passed with first hearing to establish a 2 percent threshold for parties to enter Parliament for the two upcoming Parliamentary Elections and the proportional distribution of mandates.
Other areas of reform include the judiciary, power sharing, and amnesty. Following four consecutive waves of judicial reforms, recent actions in the process of nominating Supreme Court judges along the recommendations of the Venice Commission will further the credibility of the judiciary, while another slate of judicial reforms will be implemented in June of 2022. Increased power-sharing has also been pursued by passing a law that enhances the rights of the minority by offering further protection of MPs from having their immunity stripped. In working to decrease the partisan environment, the Georgian government just passed a comprehensive amnesty legislation that exempts all those who committed crimes in connection with the events of June 19-21, 2019 from criminal liability and punishment.
Over the past nine years, the Georgian government has diligently worked alongside its U.S. and E.U partners to create a more open, pluralistic, and democratic political system. The government is committed to fundamental and lasting reforms, and will continue to push its reform agenda to provide a brighter and more democratic future for all Georgians. As Georgia prepares for another election, the country celebrates yet another achievement of democracy.