PM: Tomorrow’s Elections Will Define our Country’s Further Successful Development

"Tomorrow’s elections will define our country’s further successful development for years to come, which is why I urge all our citizens to make a choice tomorrow," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated at the briefing following today’s meeting of the Interagency Council.

He noted that Georgia can show the world another example by holding exemplary elections amid the pandemic.

“Tomorrow is a decisive day for our country’s further democratic development, and we can show the world another example by holding exemplary elections—free, open, democratic, and transparent—amid the pandemic,” Gakharia said.

Just like the pre-election season has been transparent and democratic, so must tomorrow’s election day be, and the post-election period, the Prime Minister added.

“It is the duty of the authorities, the government, opposition parties, and our entire society to make sure that tomorrow’s election day, and the post-election period, is peaceful, democratic, and transparent, in line with the highest democratic standards. Any provocation or offense, regardless of the political affiliation of the perpetrator, will be liable to severe punishment by the law enforcements,” Giorgi Gakharia stated.

The Interior Ministry has been instructed to be resolute in upholding law and order both at polling stations and throughout the country.

“The Foreign Ministry, the Campaign Headquarters, and the Interior Ministry are working around the clock to ensure against any obstacles in the work of our visiting observers,” Gakharia stated.

The PM then urged citizens to vote and make their free choice at polling stations, where the highest epidemiological safety standards will be observed.

“Our epidemiologists, the Election Commission, and the Health Ministry have made it possible, and we all must make our free choice that will define the country’s democratic development for years to come. That is why I urge all our citizens to make our choice tomorrow,” Giorgi Gakharia emphasized.

In discussing the epidemiological situation and relevant global trends, the Prime Minister pointed out that today marks a new anti-record: 546,000 new cases worldwide.

“We all see and observe concrete localized restricted in Europe, even lockdowns in some cases. Unfortunately, eight countries already have more than 8,000,000 confirmed cases. All that, of course, increases challenges facing the world and our country as well,” the Prime Minister said.

Georgia also has high numbers of new infections, though positive signs are also present in that the numbers of those recovered are also rising, and the numbers of new cases are stabilizing, given that more tests are being done.

“For example, yesterday 11,000 tests were carried out, and 9,000 the day before that. Our daily tests fluctuate between 8,000 and 11,000. And that should be credited to us all together, not just the Government or one Ministry or another,” the PM said.

Importantly, citizens are using facemasks more actively, he emphasized.

“There is a direct cause and effect link between facemask use and virus transmission rates, so we must exert extra effort to wear masks both indoors and outdoors. It is responsibility to our fellow citizens and loved once and also to our country’s further development. We must do everything to avoid harming the economy. We can repeat the success of our fight against the first wave and be just as successful in dealing with the second wave, together with our citizens and business, relevant Ministries, doctors, police forces—we all must be scrupulous about obeying the rules. These are not difficult rules, with facemask use both indoors and outdoors being key. Unfortunately, this is the most effective method invented so far,” Giorgi Gakharia stated.

The Head of Government underlined that no lockdown is planned in the country, because defeating the pandemic is worth the effort only if the damage to the economy is minimized.

“In the pre-election context, there has been much talk about a lockdown, another example of an irresponsible political force or forces, just days ahead of the elections, using issues important to our citizens to collect extra votes in this short period. I reiterate that no lockdown will be imposed in the country, only localized restrictions in particular directions. There will and can be no nationwide lockdown. And I can explain why, easily. From this moment on, our victory against the epidemic is worth the effort only if the damage to the economy is minimized. The virus will run its course, we will defeat the pandemic, and the rapid recovery of our country’s economy will become the top priority. I remember one how some speculated during the first wave, manipulating the issue of tests, rapid testing, and so on. But time has proved us right. And the same is true of the second wave. The effectiveness of dealing with the second wave will be assessed globally against several priorities, with a minimal negative economic impact as one of the top criteria,” the Prime Minister said.

The Head of Government also spoke of the country’s positive economic trends, singling out the -0.7% economic growth in September, which is indicative of the country’s rapid economic recovery and the formidable recovery potential known for a fact today. And that is a result of the joint efforts by the authorities, epidemiologists, business, and citizens, Giorgi Gakharia concluded.

“There will be no nationwide lockdown, only localized temporary restrictions designed to achieve concrete results. However, all that depends on how actively we observe basic rules like facemask use, distance, etc. Victory over the second wave must be our shared achievement. During and since the first wave, our cooperation with our business, citizens, and epidemiologists has resulted in the country’s negative economic growth dropping to a minimum. Based on this indicator, international financial organizations, our partners, the IMF, agree that Georgia is one country with a real chance of becoming the wider region’s leader in the economic recovery phase. We must do everything to build on this success,” the Prime Minister stated.

Giorgi Gakharia once again urged citizens to vote tomorrow at polling stations where epidemiological safety will be ensured.

After the briefing, the Prime Minister answered journalists’ questions.