OSCE/ODIHR: Georgian elections mostly ‘well-administered,’ but very polarised

OSCE/ODIHR, which was observing the Georgian October 2 municipal elections, has stated earlier today that the race was generally well-administered but held against the backdrop of a protracted political crisis and characterized by hardened polarization. 

“Contestants were able to campaign freely in a competitive environment that was, however, marred by wide-spread and consistent allegations of intimidation, vote-buying, pressure on candidates and voters, and an unlevel playing field,” it says. 

The OSCE/ODIHR mission also said that the  legal framework was generally conducive to democratic elections and preparations for the elections were transparent and professionally managed. 

“The overwhelming focus on national issues and the impact of the elections on national politics overshadowed local issues. The diverse media landscape was highly polarized and provided little analytical reporting and selective coverage, limiting the voters’ ability to make an informed choice, and cases of intimidation and violence against journalists were of concern,”said the observers. 

OSCE.ODIHR stated that significant imbalance in resources, insufficient oversight of campaign finances and an undue advantage of incumbency further benefited the ruling Georgian Dream party.