About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
UNM Leaders Comment on Local Elections
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 15 Jun.'14 / 23:58

Leaders of UNM opposition party said after polls closed in the June 15 local elections that “very low” voter turnout demonstrates that the Georgian Dream suffers “deep crisis of public trust”, and exit poll results, suggesting possibility of second round runoffs in some of the largest cities, show support to the ruling coalition is on decline.

Giga Bokeria, one of UNM’s leaders, said that low voter turnout was a “direct result of general atmosphere of violence, hatred, intimidation, and cynicism created by the government.”

He said that that contrary to predictions by Bidzina Ivanishvili’s “puppet” PM Irakli Garibashvili that UNM would disappear off the political radar, the opposition party has actually improved its result since the presidential elections seven months ago. Bokeria said that according to exit poll results GD itself is suffering a “serious decline” in support. “I am sure this trend will continue,” Bokeria told Maestro TV.

MP Davit Bakradze, leader of UNM parliamentary minority group, said that “instead of imitating celebration” staged after the exit poll results were announced, the Georgian Dream should “learn lessons” from these elections.

“I do not understand what they are celebrating when almost 60% of voters did not turn out at polling station and by doing so they [voters] expressed protest,” Bakradze said, adding that these elections should be a clear signal to the authorities that voters are not satisfied with government’s policies.

“It will be regrettable if instead of learning this lesson, they will try to portray that everything is alright and it’s time for celebration now,” MP Bakradze said.

Gigi Ugulava, one of UNM’s leaders and chief of its campaign, said: “In the second round runoffs our society will show even more clearly to the authorities that it can’t continue like this anymore… and should substantially change its policies and it should give up cynical approach as if it has delivered with all of its promises.”

In a written statement UNM said that “a sharp fall in voter turnout illustrates deep crisis of public trust that the current Georgian government has fallen into.”
 
“Unfortunately, today’s elections were substantially impacted by undemocratic, deteriorated election environment marred with frequent violence, well-documented pressure on UNM candidates as well as statements by top government officials justifying violence.”
 
UNM described PM Garibashvili’s statement made after the exit polls were announced as “insistence that there will be no runoff in Tbilisi.” UNM said that such “insistence while all preconditions” for second round are in place is “inadequate and undemocratic.”

“This statement points to a possibility of using the pressure employed by the government in pre-election period upon the election administration,” UNM said.

Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
17