MEPs have assessed the first round of the local elections in Georgia and said that "instances of misuse of public resources, as well as widespread allegations ofvote-buying and intimidation against candidates, voters and journalists during the entireelectoral campaign period must be investigated thoroughly."

According to the joint statement of the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, Marina Kaljurand; the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Georgia, Sven Mikser and the European Parliament's lead Member for democracy support activities inGeorgia, MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, call on the Georgian authorities and politicalparties to put an end to the malpractices observed during the first round.

"We would like to recognise that Georgia, a key partner of theEuropean Union, conducted a competitive and well-managed first round of the local electionson 2 October, despite the extremely polarised political environment and challengingepidemiological situation. However, the pre-electoral environment did not provide a level- playing field for the contesting parties and candidates and the main attention was divertedfrom local to national issues.

A delegation of Members of the European Parliament, led by Mr Michael Gahler, observedthese elections together with colleagues from the Congress of Local and Regional Authoritiesof the Council of Europe as part of the OSCE/ODIHR's International Elections ObservationMission – we would like to thank all of them wholeheartedly for their work.We take due note of the results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) – theGeorgian Dream ruling party candidates garnered 46.6% of the votes, clearing the 43%threshold which, according to the EU-brokered 19 April agreement, would have triggered theholding of a snap parliamentary election.These elections took place under a substantially improved legal framework. Voters were givena genuine choice between a variety of political alternatives, the elections were generally welladministered and the candidates were able to campaign freely. The Election Day proceeded inan orderly and transparent manner, despite some procedural issues during the whole process.

CEC sessions were opened to stakeholders and streamlined for the first time, which increasedtransparency.The campaign was characterised by a hardened polarisation of the political and medialandscapes, which sometimes led to verbal or even physical confrontations. All too often,personal attacks prevailed over political debates, depriving voters of the ability to make aninformed choice. Instances of misuse of public resources, as well as widespread allegations ofvote-buying and intimidation against candidates, voters and journalists during the entireelectoral campaign period must be investigated thoroughly.

The electoral legal framework needs to be further improved in view of future elections, takinginto account pending recommendations by the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission,notably when it comes to campaign financing, disputes resolution and the misuse of publicresources. It is also necessary to address the underrepresentation of Georgian women inpolitics.Ahead of the second round of the elections, we call on the Georgian authorities and politicalparties to put an end to the malpractices observed during the first round.

Last but not least, we count on the political class to show responsibility and maturity: theymust put their nation's interest above party interests, turn the page of confrontation once andfor all and implement much-needed reforms.The European Parliament remains ready to pursue its close cooperation with the Parliamentof Georgia by providing assistance, including via its full spectrum of democracy-supportactivities, on the condition that our Georgian counterparts show a willingness to engageconstructively in such activities," the statement said.