Politics
Georgian exit polls results show incumbent Ugulava winning reelection as Tbilisi mayor
Reading Time: 5 minutesPolls have closed across Georgia in key local elections that are seen as the first test of the strength of President Mikheil Saakashvilis government since the disastrous August 2008 war with Russia.
By Brian Whitmore
Polls have closed across Georgia in key local elections that are seen as the first test of the strength of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government since the disastrous August 2008 war with Russia.
Georgians cast ballots to elect 64 new municipal councils for four-year terms. The most crucial test, however, is in the capital, Tbilisi, which, in addition to choosing a city council, is also directly electing its mayor for the first time.
That race, observers say, will largely set the political landscape for parliamentary elections in 2012 and a presidential poll in 2013, when Saakashvili’s second and final term as president expires.
Two exit polls show incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava, a member of Saakashvili’s ruling United National Movement and a close ally of the president, with a commanding lead.
One poll, conducted by Edison Research for Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV, gives Ugulava 61 percent, with Irakli Alasania, leader of the opposition Alliance For Georgia, coming in a distant second with 17 percent. Another exit poll conducted by GfK and commissioned by the Georgian Public Broadcaster gave Ugulava 60 percent and Alasania 18 percent.
Both Ugulava and Alasania are widely believed to harbor presidential ambitions.
Final results are expected after midnight local time.
Giga Bokeria, Georgia’s deputy foreign minister and a member of a newly formed task force for free and fair elections, says that in contrast to previous polls, this round of elections has focused largely on bread-and-butter issues of local governance and has been surprisingly free of political grandstanding.
"I would say that these elections are the first in my short memory where a critical mass, an overwhelming majority, of political parties — not just the ruling party but the opposition parties, as well — have run an issues-based campaign," Bokeria told RFE/RL on the eve of the vote.
"We didn’t have that before. That was one of the problems of the political culture in Georgia. So I think that is one very important step forward."
Brisk Turnout
Julie Giorgadze, a spokeswoman for the Central Election Commission, said voting proceeded “without obstacles.”
Turnout appeared to be brisk in Tbilisi, with long lines forming at polling stations throughout the morning. By 5 p.m. local time, three hours before polls closed, the Electoral Commission said turnout had reached approximately 40 percent, both in the capital and nationwide.
Nine candidates are vying to be Tbilisi’s mayor, which is considered one of the most important offices in the country because one-third of Georgia’s 4.5 million citizens reside in the capital.
Speaking briefly to reporters after voting in the morning, Ugulava called the elections “historic” and praised his opponents for what he called a hard-fought but “businesslike” campaign.
"I am sure there will be high turnout because it is the first time the residents of Tbilisi will elect a mayor," Ugulava said. "I want to thank all the candidates because it has been a really interesting campaign. All the candidates tried to express their views on how to improve the city.
"I hope and believe that the election will be transparent and fair. It will be one more step toward democracy. We need democracy to foster greater stability."
Ugulava, who analysts consider the leading presidential contender for 2013, has been aided by Saakashvili’s strong public support and by a wave of frantic construction and urban renewal projects in the capital, which the opposition considers an unfair political use of his "administrative resources" as mayor.
‘Voted For Change’
Alasania, Georgia’s former ambassador to the United Nations, who leads a newly formed opposition coalition called The Alliance For Georgia, cautioned against trusting the exit polls in remarks to reporters.
“Exit polls do not give a real picture. Only the actual vote tabulation will give us a real picture. We will make an assessment only afterwards,” Alasania said.
Alasania smiled broadly and gave his trademark thumbs-up to reporters after casting his ballot.
"I feel great," he said. "The weather is beautiful and I am sure turnout will be high. I am certain the elections will proceed normally. I voted for change."
The soft-spoken Alasania, who won plaudits in Western capitals for his calming presence during the war with Russia, quit his UN post in December 2008 over opposition to Saakashvili’s policies. Since then he has sought to establish himself as a mainstream alternative to both Saakashvili and Georgia’s noisy and often rambunctious opposition.
He is widely expected to run for president in 2013.
Prior to the vote, public opinion polls showed a clear advantage for Ugulava in Tbilisi and for the ruling United National Movement across the country.
Speaking to RFE/RL on the eve of the vote, Alasania called the election "a test for democracy in Georgia." Alasania said he was not concerned by his weak showing in public opinion polls. He added that there were "a lot of silent voters" — particularly young first-time voters — who would come to the polls to support him.
WATCH: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili casts his ballot, praises the vote, and predicts victory for the ruling United National Movement:
"I’m confident and I am very optimistic. Throughout all the meetings I had [with voters] over the past month and a half, I feel that we defeated the pessimism that was in society ahead of these elections," he said.
"More people now are saying they will come out to vote and participate. More people understand how important these elections are to begin changes here on the local level and then on the central level."
‘Back On Track’
Speaking to reporters after voting in the afternoon, Saakashvili called the elections "the best since independence" and confidently predicted victory for the United National Movement.
"Georgia is back on the European track. Georgia is back on the economic development track," he said. "We have performed almost miracles in this area. We have the freest electoral system and democracy in this part of the world, and we are very proud."
The vote was closely watched, with hundreds of international observers from the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring the polls.
The Election Media Center, a monitoring group set up by three local watchdogs – Transparency International, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, and the International Society for Fair Elections – released a statement ahead of the poll saying that there were "fewer violations" in terms of voter intimidation in the run-up to the vote than in previous elections.
The report said the Georgian authorities were striving to “gain a positive assessment from the international community” but noted that reports of voter and candidate intimidation were more frequent in the regions than in Tbilisi.
Opposition candidates in the Tbilisi mayoral race have complained that the threshold for winning the election outright in the first round — avoiding a runoff — was set by authorities at just 30 percent – a move they say clearly favors the incumbent.
The ruling United National Movement and the Christian Democrats, a self-styled opposition party that often supports the government, announced on May 29 that they had hired buses to bring their supporters to polling stations.
A similar practice during parliamentary and presidential elections in 2008 led to allegations of so-called “merry-go-round voting,” in which voters were ferried to cast several ballots at various polling stations. Representatives of the ruling party deny the allegation and insist that the process will be transparent.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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