ISFED releases document, evaluating pre-electoral environment
By Khatia Bzhalava
Thursday, July 2
A non-governmental organisation International Society for Fair Elections And Democracy (ISFED) estimates the pre-electoral environment of the 2020 parliamentary elections in the statement published on the 1st of July. The document reviews the condition of the country in terms of electoral legislation, political and media pluralism as well as the important socio-political processes that took place before June 2020.
According to the organisation, the upcoming elections carry significant importance as the political environment in the past two years has been especially tense and polarised. Also, another circumstance that makes the 2020 elections important is the influence of COVID-19.
As ISFED reports, the current processes of Adjara TV and the decision made by the European Court of Human Rights over the case of Rustavi2 TV has sharply changed the media environment. “The feeling that the media with critical editorial politics towards the government is being pressurised has strengthened,” states ISFED and believes that it is fundamental for citizens to be able to receive impartial and objective news from the media. “It is vital to implement effective politics in terms to assure the freedom of media and execute any improper intervention in the work of broadcasters.”
According to the statement, social media will be one of the substantial communication tools in the 2020 parliamentary elections. As ISFED states, presidential elections of 2018 and the following period clarified that Facebook is used not only for political actors to spread their own programmes and ideas but also for political discrediting as well by spreading disinformation and different types of harmful messages in an organised manner. The statement reads that even though deletion of Facebook accounts from the platform played a significant role in unloading the information space, the measure has a temporary effect and using platforms for manipulating public opinion still continues.
ISFED presented recommendations towards the government of Georgia, Election Administration, State Audit Office, and political parties:
“To the Government
It is important to adopt timely legislative changes as part of the electoral reform, which will help create equitable and fair electoral environment; considering the risks caused by COVID-19, proper legislative changes should be implemented, which will assure that the elections are held in the safe background; the government should facilitate Media organisation’s free and impartial work. Under no circumstances should anyone intervene in broadcasters' work and restrict its guarantee of independence.
To the Election Administration (Tsesko)
When recruiting professional members of the election administration, it is especially important that their selection is based on objective and transparent criteria. The role of the Cesko in this process is further enhanced by promoting the formation of an environment free from political influence at any stage of the competition; election administration should react effectively on disputes and should make decisions only after fluently surveying the circumstances.
To State Audit Office
As the election approaches, the mandate of the Audit Office will increase in terms of political funding and expenditures for electoral purposes, as well as for the purpose of monitoring political advertisements and election expenditures posted on social networks. Based on the experience of the last elections, it is an important challenge to determine the amount and origin of the money spent on social media platforms, and especially on Facebook, for the purpose of advertising or anti-campaign agitation. That is why it is even more important to respond effectively and in a timely manner to such cases so that these costs do not remain beyond the control of the Audit Office.
To political parties
Political parties and candidates should not use anonymous campaigns aimed at discrediting opponents, the media and other actors involved in the elections.
The document was prepared with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union. The views expressed in the document by International Society for Fair Elections And Democracy may not reflect the views of USAID, the US Government or the European Union,” reads the statement.
