Amendment No. 16 | Doc. 13588 | 30 September 2014
The functioning of democratic institutions in Georgia
In the draft resolution, replace paragraph 9 with the following paragraph:
"The Assembly takes note of the numerous changes in local governments in Georgia as a result of local councilors and city officials resigning or switching sides following the change of power at the national level. While resignations and switching between parties is part of the democratic process, it is unacceptable if it is the result of duress. The Assembly welcomes the explicit commitment of the government to ensure continuity in the civil service and to discourage changes in party allegiance. The Assembly also takes note of the decline in changes of party membership. The Assembly takes into consideration the fact that a number of changes have taken place as a result of undue pressure on local United National Movement (UNM) activists by supporters of the ruling coalition. The Assembly is also concerned by reports of violent disruption of the campaign activities of the UNM, allegedly by Georgian Dream supporters, as well as reports that a considerable number of opposition candidates in the local elections, mainly from the UNM, withdrew their candidatures, allegedly under pressure from the authorities. There can be no place for such actions in a democratic society. The authorities should take prompt and effective measures to immediately halt such action and remedy the situation where necessary. The leaders of the ruling majority should give a clear and unambiguous signal to their supporters that any undue pressure on local officials and disturbances of the political activities of the opposition will not be tolerated. The Assembly welcomes the explicit condemnation of the Prime Minister and other members of the government of such actions as well as the investigations and legal proceedings against party members from the ruling and opposition parties who may have broken the law."
Explanatory note
Following the 2012 elections, the Prime Minister of Georgia issued a statement about the commitment of the government to continuity in the civil service and called not to change party allegiance. Investigations and legal action have been taken against activists - including from the Georgian Dream party - who have engaged in violence or have exerted undue pressure on members of other political parties.