Evaluation of The April 27 Parliamentary By-Elections Pre-Election Period

April 26, 2013
Evaluation of the April 27 Parliamentary By-Elections Pre-Election Period

ISFED, TI-Georgia, GYLA
On April 27, 2013, parliamentary by-elections will be held in Nadzaladevi #9, Baghdati #52 and
Samtredia #54 electoral districts, where voters will elect their majoritarian representatives in the
Parliament of Georgia after three MPs that won their seats in the 2012 parliamentary elections
left the parliament to join the executive branch.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Georgian Young Lawyers
Association (GYLA) and Transparency International Georgia carried out monitoring of preelection environment for the April 27, 2013 parliamentary by-elections.
Election Environment
Unlike the 2012 parliamentary elections, pre-election environment prior to the 2013
parliamentary by-elections was rather peaceful. Competitive election environment was observed
in all three electoral districts allowing candidates to campaign freely, distribute agitation
materials, and conduct meetings with voters. Voters were not restricted in their right to attend
pre-election campaign meetings and express their support for individual candidates.
Unlike other municipalities, there were almost no reports of dismissals from work on political
grounds. Cases of intimidation or abuse of administrative resources were mostly reported by the
United National Movement but frequently these allegations did not hold up when verified.
Protocols of administrative offences were drawn up by Samtredia DEC against the head of
Khoni police for violation of campaign and agitation rules, and a local newspaper for violation of
the rules for production of printed campaign materials. Regrettably, the court did not consider
either of the cases as abuse of administrative resources and offered a narrow interpretation of the
right to use administrative resources in its rulings, which may become a negative precedent in the
future efforts to curb abuse of administrative resources.
During the pre-election period, activists of the UNM were summoned by investigating
authorities, which they perceived as psychological pressure and interference in their campaign
activities. In response, the Inter-Agency Task for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) recommended
that the law enforcement authorities suspend the process of summoning campaign activists
during the pre-election period. Following the recommendation, such practice stopped which is a
positive outcome welcomed by the NGOs. In response to another IATF recommendation public
service announcements concerning agriculture allowances stopped airing one week prior to the
by-election day. The IATF issued recommendations about broadcasting of public service
announcements on agricultural cards one week ahead of the elections, as well as a
recommendation about the use of state resources, calling for the authorities and election
campaign stakeholders to draw a clear line between party and government events.
Meetings facilitated by the Inter-Agency Task for Free and Fair Elections proved to be an
acceptable format for political parties to debate and exchange information. Notably, similar to
the recent parliamentary elections, developments leading up to the parliamentary by-elections
were discussed in frames of the IATF instead of the Central Elections Commission.
Media was rather pluralistic during the pre-election period; however, Imedi TV, Maestro TV and
Channel 9, the three major national broadcasters, refused to allocate free airtime for political
advertising, likely limiting the opportunity for individual candidates to introduce their election
programs to voters. Although by their refusal the broadcasters have not violated the law, the
GNCC discussed the matter and issued a following recommendation to all general national
broadcasters (including Studio Maestro Ltd, Channel 9 Ltd, and Teleimedi Ltd), calling them to
allocate airtime for free pre-election advertising during the ongoing by-elections, in volumes
prescribed by law, in view of the fact that together with local [broadcasters] they [general
broadcasters] also cover Baghdati, Tbilisi and Samtredia. The problem arose due to the
regulation that only subjects local broadcasters to the obligation of allocating airtime for free
election advertising during by-elections. As the law offers a very narrow definition of a local
broadcaster, there is a risk that the obligation to air free political advertising will not apply to any
of the broadcasters during by-elections.
Election Administration
No major flaws were reported in the process of staffing precinct election commissions (PEC),
except for Nadzaladevi #9 electoral district where violations were reported in the process of
appointment of #5, #18 and #38 PEC members and errors were found in the protocol of PEC
meeting. Therefore, authority of the District Election Commission (DEC) chairperson was
suspended prematurely, warning was issued to the secretary of the DEC, and the DEC resolution
for appointment of members of all three PECs was pronounced null and void. Notably, ISFED
identified, out of the members of PECs within Nadzaladevi electoral district, selected by the
DEC as professional members 14 chairpersons and 15 deputy chairpersons were formerly
appointed by the opposition parties for the 2012 parliamentary elections to the PECs. Regarding
this, the UNM was also accusing the DEC chairperson of falsifying the competition materials,
demanding that he be subject to criminal proceedings.
The Central Election Commission was mostly criticized about the procedures it adopted for
appointment of PEC secretaries. In its February 26, 2013 resolution N7/2013, the CEC adopted
guidelines for PEC members in April 27 by-elections. The guidelines explained procedures for
appointment of PEC secretaries, saying that secretaries are appointed from members of PECs
that represent political parties (except for proxies of the United National Movement).
Consequently, only the candidates of the ruling coalition were able to hold positions of PEC
chairpersons in Nadzaladevi, Baghdati and Samtredia election precincts.
Election monitoring NGOs criticized this decision, which was followed up by the response
statements from the CEC. In one of its statements, the CEC advised the NGOs to re-evaluate
their role in the election processes in light of the dramatic changes in political field. The NGOs
have evaluated the statement as incorrect and beyond ethical standards.
April 27, 2013 parliamentary by-elections will be the first elections to be held following the
transfer of power, and therefore, it will be an important test for the new government. The NGOs
believe that recent period has illustrated the necessity to improve certain provisions of the
election law prior to the presidential elections, including norms that regulate the use of state
resources and election advertising.
The three NGOs will closely monitor the Election Day by means of mobile teams as well as
observers stationed at the district and precinct election commissions. For the Election Day
monitoring ISFED will be utilizing 81 observers, GYLA 55 observers, and Transparency
International- Georgia 6 mobile teams. Toll-free SMS number 90039 will also operate where
any citizen can submit information regarding electoral violations.

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April 26, 2013

Evaluation of the April 27 Parliamentary By-Elections Pre-Election Period

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