Georgia - October 2024
Observers and analysts criticize election’s fairness
International election observers criticized the conduct of Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary election, citing widespread pressure on voters to support the ruling party, the underrepresentation of women (partly due to the removal of gender quotas), limited campaign finance oversight that favoured the ruling Georgian Dream party, and more. Observers also found the election to be “marred by concerns over recently adopted legislation [and] its impact on fundamental freedoms and civil society.” Data analysts also found evidence of irregular patterns in electoral precinct data that indicated some degree of vote-buying, ballot stuffing, or other activities in favour of Georgian Dream. The domestic opposition pledged to boycott the incoming Parliament, Sweden suspended development cooperation with the Georgian government, and US President Joe Biden and other Western officials called on the Georgian government to fully investigate reports of electoral interference and voter pressure.
Sources: OSCE, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Civil.ge
Georgia holds legislative elections under new electoral system
On 26 October, Georgia held a parliamentary election in which all 150 seats were contested under a fully proportional system for the first time. The incumbent right-wing Georgian Dream remained the largest party and won 89 seats with a vote share of 53.93 per cent. The centre-right Coalition for Change secured 19 seats with a vote share of 11.03 per cent. The Unity National Movement became the third-largest coalition, securing 16 seats with a vote share of 10.17 per cent. President Salome Zourabichvili, along with the opposition and civil society, have rejected the results of the election and have called for protests against the ruling party. Election observation missions have expressed concern about possible intimidation and vote buying surrounding the election. Voter turnout in the election stood at 58.73 per cent, a slight increase from the 2020 turnout of 56.75 per cent.
Sources: Associated Press, British Broadcasting Corporation, Election Administration of Georgia, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
