The CEC Chairperson discussed the current election issues with the representatives of the UN Office in Georgia

Today, Giorgi Kalandarishvili,  Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC),  met with Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, Douglas Webb, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia, and Oleh Protsyk, Regional Peace and Development Advisor, at the UN Office in Georgia.

The primary focus of the meeting was the upcoming 2024 elections. The CEC Chairperson, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, provided a comprehensive overview of the election administration’s rigorous efforts to guarantee the elections are conducted at the highest professional level and in strict adherence to international standards. Mr. Kalandarishvili highlighted that 27 political parties are registered for the elections, with the next step being the submission of party lists by the September 26 deadline. To aid political parties in their campaign efforts, the CEC has assigned sequence numbers to the parties, taking into account the earliest possible timeframe.

During today’s meeting, they also discussed the CEC's initiative to develop a code of ethics for political parties, which is expected to be signed soon. The CEC Chairperson indicated that the code of ethics will be signed with non-governmental organizations. Additionally, Giorgi Kalandarishvili noted that to enhance ethical standards among election administrators, the CEC has significantly updated its members' code of ethics.

Discussions during the meeting also encompassed the registration of local observation organizations and voter information in electronic elections. Giorgi Kalandarishvili reiterated the election administration's commitment to welcoming impartial and objective observation of elections. Regarding voter information on technological aspects, he noted that the administration has undertaken numerous activities, reaching over half a million voters to date. This includes nationwide demonstrations of election technologies, which featured both theoretical and practical components, addressing recommendations from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for comprehensive testing of election technologies.

The parties also discussed the current needs and challenges faced by the election administration, including the issue of disinformation.

At the end of the meeting, Giorgi Kalandarishvili expressed his gratitude to the UN representatives for their engagement on key election issues. He emphasized that collaboration with international organizations and their support is crucial for the election administration.