OSCE Sec Gen: ODIHR’s report explicitly states that Georgian election results reflected will of voters - opposition’s boycott disregards voters’ will

Feridun Sinirlioğlu, the Secretary General of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, on Wednesday stated during his address at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's annual session in Portugal that an opposition holding 40% representation in the Georgian Parliament but failing to utilise it was an unfair treatment of the electorate.

Addressing the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia and the opposition's involvement, the OSCE Secretary General highlighted that the opposition, which holds 61 out of 150 mandates in the Georgian Parliament, was boycotting it.

“Regarding the elections, the results of which the opposition is questioning, the ODIHR issued a report that clearly states that, despite certain shortcomings, the election results reflected the will of the voters. The opposition holds 61 out of 150 seats in the Georgian Parliament, meaning over 40 percent of the Parliament is represented by the opposition”, Sinirlioğlu said.

“However, the opposition is boycotting the Parliament. Clearly, in a democracy, you should have civic space to express your views, but you should also effectively use the body elected by the people - the Parliament. Having 40 percent representation in the Georgian Parliament and not using it means you are unfairly treating the people who elected you. We must not forget that Georgia is a country at war, both technically and legally. Its territories are occupied. When we discuss and analyse the situation in Georgia, we must always take this into account”, the OSCE Secretary General noted.