Kurt Walker: The verification of election results in Georgia must be followed by the winners forming a government, the losers taking up their places in parliament

The investigations and verification of election results must be followed by the winners forming a government, the losers taking up their places as opposition in parliament, and all sides committing to the continuation of the democratic process. Remedies must be pursued through legal democratic means, - reads the article by American diplomat Kurt Walker posted on the website of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

“The increase in regional geopolitical pressures comes on top of a tense domestic political situation in Georgia following recent national elections. The Central Election Commission has certified that the ruling Georgian Dream party won 48 percent of the vote, enough to form a new government without need of coalition partners. The United Opposition, however, has refused to accept this result, citing numerous allegations of voting irregularities that have yet to be investigated. On top of this, the supposedly “united” opposition is actually divided over how to handle former President Saakashvili, whose “United National Movement” political party came in second place in the voting.

Here, Secretary Pompeo’s job will be especially tricky. He will need to defend the rule of law on all sides – meaning insisting both that allegations of fraud should be investigated, and that remedies be made if and when appropriate. At the same time, he should stress that democracy requires both a government and a robust political opposition. The investigations and verification of election results must be followed by the winners forming a government, the losers taking up their places as opposition in parliament, and all sides committing to the continuation of the democratic process. Remedies must be pursued through legal democratic means”, reads the article.