Pondering Georgia’s Future While in Tbilisi
August 30, 2010
I arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia in late July to assist the staff in transitioning the office from one project to another, a mission I was only too pleased to undertake, as it meant the continuation of our important work in the country. This new agreement in large measure due to the staff’s hard work and dedication to IFES and to democracy in Georgia.
Democracy Assistance,
Civil Society
Building a Better Election Process in Georgia
July 27, 2010
Election Day on May 30, 2010, in Tbilisi, Georgia was calm and orderly, and the results of the municipal elections brought few surprises. The incumbent mayor, Gigi Ugulava, won the Tbilisi mayoral race with 55% of the vote, and the United National Movement (the party of President Mikheil Saakashvili) dominated council votes across the country.
Elections,
Post-conflict,
Political Parties,
Election Observation,
Electoral Systems
Use of Administrative Resources for Election Campaign in Georgia - 2nd Report
May 11, 2010
The second interim report on monitoring the use of administrative resources for election
campaign covers the period of time between 15 March and 5 May 2010 and focuses on the four
main types of administrative resources: coercive, financial, material‐technical and human. The
analysis shows that there have, so far, been fewer violations during the campaign for the 30
May local elections than was the case during the 2008 early presidential and parliamentary
ballots. However, the general picture is still far from positive.
Governance,
Election Management,
Democracy Assistance,
Financial Disclosure,
Political Finance
IFES Sponsors First-ever Live Televised Candidate Debates in Tbilisi, Georgia
May 10, 2010
In anticipation of local elections at the end of the month, IFES organized and sponsored live, televised candidate debates for the post of mayor of Tbilisi, Georgia, together with Georgian Public Broadcasting. These debates represent a first in Georgian democracy – live debates featuring candidates running for office have never been produced before.
Public Opinion,
Elections,
Political Parties,
Civic Education,
Civil Society
Use of Administrative Resources for Election Campaign in Georgia - 1st Report
March 29, 2010
There has been an unprecedented increase in the funding allocated to local government entities in
Georgia’s state budget ahead of the 2010 local elections. The total transfers to local government bodies
in the state budget exceed the previous year’s figure by 34%. At the same time, there has been a
considerable increase in the number of employees in the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office and in the regional
administrative bodies. The resulting growth of salary funds is at odds with President Saakashvili’s
policy of reducing bureaucracy costs. Those who oppose this approach have suggested that state money
is being used to employ the people who are to participate in the ruling party’s election campaign.
Governance,
Election Management,
Democracy Assistance,
Financial Disclosure,
Political Finance
IFES Offers Assistance to Georgia
October 25, 2006
Georgia’s government is taking steps to distribute power more evenly, opening up a new chapter in its democratic development, according to a high-level Georgian delegation that visited IFES on October 20. Georgian Ambassador to the United States, Canada and Mexico Vasil Sikharulidze and Members of Parliament Nikoloz Rurua and David Bakradze discussed a variety of elections-related topics with IFES staff including President Mikheil Saakashvili’s proposal to hold presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time in spring 2008.
Elections,
Democracy Assistance,
Governance,
Election Management