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Elections on Trial Project: Inaugural Meeting of the Europe and Eurasia Electoral Jurisprudence Working Group
IFES is working to establish peer networks in Europe and Eurasia and Africa, supported by the United States Agency for International Development. Regional knowledge exchange allows judges and election commissioners to discuss best practices and share comparative examples of how other countries deal with specific categories of complaints and disputes.
Publication
Electoral Assessment
New Report on Abuse of State Resources in Georgia
This report details findings from an IFES Abuse of State Resources Assessment conducted in Georgia following October 2016 elections. This assessment served as the pilot test of the Abuse of State Resources Research and Assessment Framework assessment methodology and draws on detailed desk research as well as a field research mission to Georgia in May 2017. Findings are focused on abuse of state resources legal provisions, oversight institutions and enforcement mechanisms.
September 01, 2017
Publication
Report/Paper
Political Party Funding in Georgia
The role of money in politics has a profound effect upon the legitimacy of elections and the quality of democracy, governance and development. All countries, including advanced democracies, struggle with political finance issues.
March 01, 2011
Publication
Report/Paper
Use of Administrative Resources for Election Campaign in Georgia - 2nd Report
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.
May 11, 2010
News & Updates
Feature
Televised Candidate Debate in Tbilisi, Georgia
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.
Publication
Report/Paper
Use of Administrative Resources for Election Campaign in Georgia - 1st Report
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.
March 29, 2010
Publication
Report/Paper
A Study of Political Party Assistance in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
Under a joint project of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. State Department (EUR/ACE), Democracy International (DI) conducted a comprehensive study of efforts to assist political party development in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
June 15, 2007
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Financial Report of the Election Campaign Fund of the Election Subjects – Republic of Georgia
Disclosure forms submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Georgia (English language)
Publication
Report/Paper
Lithuania: Money and Politics Case Study
Lithuania has rapidly developed both politically and economically since emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991. While the country has built a functioning parliamentary system of government, has become a member of NATO, and is on the verge of joining the European Union, it still faces many problems associated with the many consolidating democracies around the world. As in all democracies, populations need to trust that those they elect will represent their interests. Problems such as corruption, weaknesses in laws concerning the political financing, and unaccounted for political income and expenditures threaten the credibility of the process and hinder the speed at which democracy is consolidated. Additionally, Lithuania lacks the high level of vibrant debate about the issue of political financing among scholars, journalists and civil society bodies required to promote meaningful reform. Recognizing this, Lithuania has developed an independent Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and adopted laws requiring detailed and public disclosure of political finance accounts. Prior to conducting Money and Politics programming in Lithuania, the CEC had made a demonstrable interest in making information public. While scanning summary report of accounts and placing them on the internet, the user could not search, not easily compare and analyze the information. Interested parties were required to make an appointment to view more detailed, paper-based information. Further, while the Tax Authorities are required to audit final political party reports, enforcement is widely considered to be weak. Few, if any, cases of political finance violations have been forwarded and investigated, not to mention prosecuted. By addressing the difficult issues surrounding political finance with the support of IFES in 2002 and 2003, Lithuania is emerging as a model for other consolidating democracy to follow. Significant areas remain to be addressed. While Lithuania has taken concrete steps to reform political finance legislation, open political finance information to public scrutiny and oversight, and encourage debate, further efforts are required to actively enforce laws and regulations and raise the level of debate among the various governmental, legislative, and civil society groups. By addressing these areas, Lithuania has the potential for being an example of best practices while making local expertise and resources to other countries undergoing similar reforms.
December 31, 2002