Votes Recounting Started

After categorical demands and ultimatums of the Investigation Commission of the Parliament, on July 30 the Central Elections Commission (CEC) started recounting of the votes cast during the election of Tbilisi City Council – Sakrebulo on June 2. This is a first case in Georgian history when the votes are recounted.

First the election protocols and other documentation that are kept sealed at the CEC will be inventoried and after this the votes recounting will start. 5 separate groups, each composed with 5 members will recount the votes. Representatives of the non-governmental organizations and mass media will be involved in the process as observers as well due to decreased reputation and credibility of the CEC after the elections.

CEC had to initiate recounting after the Tbilisi District Court ruled positively on Mikheil Saakashvili’s New National Movement’s appeal, which has been demanding this process due to numerous procedural violations during the elections. This was not an only trial process regarding the local elections. Pleas of other political parties might also change current situation around the Sakrebulo.

The National Democratic Party also appealed to the Supreme Court demanding complete annulment of the election results. The People’s Party is objecting to the recounting. Both parties have failed to clear 4% barrier during the elections and acquire seats in the city council.

During the session of the Investigation Commission of the Parliament, which is studying facts of violations during the elections, the Chairman of the CEC Jumber Lominadze refereed to these pleas as an explanation of why the recounting was impossible. However, the committee members considered these arguments as irrelevant and demanded initiation of the recounting process categorically. Otherwise the Procuracy would have launched a criminal proceeding against the CEC members because of un-fulfillment of the court’s decision. The financial problems also hindered to initiate the votes recounting, but the Finance Ministry has already transferred to the CEC 64,000 Lari (USD 29,000) necessary for the process.  

It is hard to predict exactly how long the recounting of votes from more than 400 districts will take. The CEC members say it might take several months. According to the law, if more than 20% of the votes will be a subject to annulment due to various reasons, new elections shall be held in Tbilisi.

Such development of the events will not be in favor of the Labor Party – winner of the Locals. The party has been strongly objecting to initiation of the recounting.

Post election events – the endless trials and ballot recounting delayed the first session of the new city council, which was scheduled for June 24.