2018-11-21
As Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated in his reply to Georgian journalists' questions in Brussels, since Georgian Dream's coming to power in 2012, every subsequent election has been exemplary, guaranteeing that the runoff will meet the highest standards.
According to the Head of Government, today is the most vivid demonstration of Georgia's progress on the path to democracy.
"We are the most successful country in the Eastern Partnership in terms of EU integration. Naturally, it is thanks to democratic development and this success that we are here today. As for the National Movement, they do want to cause discord in our society. We have seen an enormous wave of fake news, and all this is part of their narrative. If any organization or citizen has information about any violation or error, it must be provided immediately to enable investigative bodies to respond properly. When we are talking about upholding high standards of democracy, it applies to every party, so if there is any information about particular violations, it must be provided to a relevant agency," the Prime Minister stated.
According to the Head of Government, information about the Government allegedly using its new initiatives to bribe voters is absolutely groundless and "figments of imagination." Mamuka Bakhtadze says that the law reads that one initiative or another should not serve the purpose of influencing the results of elections.
"On August 17, when I assumed personal responsibility to solve the problem of the sop-called black list in autumn, we were not in a pre-election season. As for social policy initiatives, we have also assumed responsibility to change our social policy, especially after the publication of the well-known study by UNICEF. We have coordinated this program with all our partner organizations, including the IMF with which we have a crucially important program. The budget is under consideration in Parliament, which begs a question: When were we supposed to announce these initiatives if not back when we did? Accordingly, these allegations are groundless. On November 28, the Georgian people will make a choice, and it is up to the Georgian people alone to elect President of Georgia. The election will meet the highest democratic standards and principles," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
The Prime Minister urged all NGOs and citizens who may have concrete information about possible violations promptly to inform relevant agencies, so that adequate response may be provided to "any possible distortions."
"However, we are dealing with such a destructive force that I, as a citizen, cannot rule out a possibility of the National Movement itself attempting to stage certain incidents or to promote misleading information, which they have done repeatedly in the past. This is why it is necessary to provide the public and investigative bodies with all reasonable information for prompt for response," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Prime Minister's Press Office