The longest campaign in the country's history has recently started in Georgia ahead of the parliamentary elections on October 8th. The corresponding decree was posted on the website of the presidential administration.
According to preliminary information, more than 30 parties will compete this year for seats in the legislative body. Registration of parties will continue till August. In addition, elections to the Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic will take place on October 8th.
According to the Electoral Code of Georgia, the party have already received the right to spread campaign posters and propaganda. Moreover, the ban on the use of administrative resources and the ban on the participation of senior officials in the election campaign of parties have already come into force.
Recall that President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili signed a decree according to which the elections will take place on June 3rd, and on June 8th it was signed by Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
The head of the Center for Global Studies, Nana Devdariani, he said in an interview with a 'Vestnik Kavkaza' correspondent of that first of all the forthcoming elections will differ from previous ones in 2012. In spite of the involvement of other parties, there were two distinct poles – the 'United National movement' and the 'Georgian dream'. "Today the situation has changed. The coalition 'Georgian Dream' has broken that is why the subjects are participating in the elections on their own. It will lead to a very strong fragmentation of votes. The competition is quite high. In theory, members of these parties can overcome this barrier. Today Burjanadze and the 'Alliance of patriots' have a real chance," the analyst explained.
She also admitted that provocation may take place during the election campaign. "We have a political party, which is famous for the use of force during elections and in between. It is the 'National Movement," the expert said.
Peter Mamradze, the head at the Institute of Management Strategy drew attention to the fact that the election campaign will be much more free and therefore more fair. Because earlier, during Saakashvili times, it was just an imitation of free and fair elections where everything was predetermined. In addition to Saakashvili's supporters, there were bogus parties.
"When I was a member of the Parliament I saw how all members of the commission were offered bribes. The situation has changed now. The administrative and financial resources are almost completely in the hands of the ruling 'Georgian Dream' party, created by Ivanishvili. It saved Georgia in 2012. Today its rating is low, but due to the consolidation of power and administrative resources the 'Georgian Dream' is destined to win, especially when using the majority list. The ruling group is based on the majority. Therefore, if there is no collapse the 'Georgian Dream' will win. In this regard, the situation will be very similar to the 'National movement' at the time of Saakashvili. But the essence is completely different. There will be no repressions, dominance on TV,'' the analyst said.
