The Speaker, Mr. David Usupashvili held the press-conference to resume the preliminary returns of the Parliamentary Elections of October 8.

According to him, the citizens had the possibility to make their free choice, however the electoral process included the shortcomings as well. Despite, there is no ground to doubt legitimacy of the returns. 

“Two days passed since October 8 elections. It is time enough for us to resume the preliminary and technical returns.

I am glad that on October 8, the Georgian citizens had better possibility to make their free choice than at the preceding elections and it is a significant step forward to strengthen our country.

There were shortcomings, signs of crime even and I hope to hear the final decisions of the competent agencies on the hereof circumstances, however I believe that there is no ground to doubt legitimacy of the electoral process or legitimacy of returns. The Elections have been held and it is to be accomplished as we expect the second round in most of the majoritarian constituencies but we can state that the Elections have been successful. As a result, we will have the new Parliament, new political reality and we shall think in this direction, we shall analyze in this direction.

All the main subjects mostly successfully fulfilled the imposed tasks and thus, we can state that the elections in total can be estimated as successful, as a step forward, though I expected better organization and acknowledgement of our roles. It would let us make further steps for better results. It applies to the political parties, electoral administration, sociological surveys and exit poll organizations and other important subjects, namely there was evident lack of qualification of the electoral administration, which entailed shortcomings especially after the elections, upon resumption of the returns and declaration of the protocols.

It is a particular concern for me and I want us all to ensure prevention of evident “hidden hand” upon declaration of the returns providing the population with the portions of the final returns according to some logics. It is inadmissible and I would like us not to have the ground for questions and would like the electoral administration not to ask about favorable figures broadcasted on TV prior and after the elections. It is a sensitive issue and shall be taken care. Unfortunately, that “hidden hand”, starting from Adam Smith, we knew was regulating the market processes, though it sometimes regulates the political processes as well. Unfortunately, it was continuation of the tendencies taking place upon pre-election campaign – covert footage, accidentally published in due time, weapon storage accidentally detected in due time etc. The protocols of the first ED Commission accidentally selected, demonstrating the maximal results for particular party and minimal results for others led to this reality.

Meanwhile, it somehow accidentally coincides with the exit poll data proving impartiality and inefficiency of the this party because we see the political forces manipulating with this mechanism and entailing results for some parties to be negative and positive for other. All these are shortcomings to be eliminated but it still does not indicate to illegitimacy of the elections because the citizens had the opportunity to make their free choice. It is now responsibility of each of the citizens who used this opportunity or not, made their choice or stayed at home and no electoral administration or other agencies can handle it. I would like to thank media for your productive work.

Not because I always believed that you were telling us truth on various channels but we had the remote control panel to switch channels for the complete picture. I would like us not to need clicking when the next Elections will come. I want to choose one channel and receive the objective information. Though, it is a task to jointly accomplish in the future. These elections have the political consequences. Unfortunately, I doubt we will have a simple Parliament and simple political life. This anxiety I share with you and which is common for others, unfortunately appeared true and the main factor for the results was the pre-election cocktail jointly offered by the Georgian Dream and the United National Movement. It was the pre-election campaign based on the icon of an enemy, based on hatred and destruction, which cannot be beneficial for Georgia.

So, today, in capacity of the Speaker, I would like to address to the leaders of these two political forces – Mr. Kvirikashvili and Mr. Bakradze. The direction of the country and development of political processes depend personally on them. I want to believe that they will have constructive relations regardless affiliation to rival parties but this competition shall not go beyond the law and civilized relations. Now, when we already know the pre-election results and now when in up to 50 constituencies, GD and UNM confront each other, we need to be wise and have statehood approaches. I know them both and I believe that they will find strength so necessary for the country. These elections shall be accomplished in peaceful manner. As to the future Parliamentary activity, it is another issue.

And finally, I would like to note that the electors failed to see the political product necessary for the country, which was scattered amongst various forces with various components but they shall be accumulated. So, one of the tasks now is to unify the joint efforts of political forces in terms of democratic, European choice. I still exercise the functions of the Speaker until convocation of the new Parliament.

The Parliament, Staff and all of us work to make everything ready. I will be involved in these processes necessary for peaceful accomplishment of the elections. I will be committed for cooperation with all the officials involved. I also remain the benefactor of Mr. Kvirikashvili and I wish him success on the path he and his supporters chose. In my opinion, this path is the hardest – state administration with the Constitutional majority. It is the hardest way but I wish him and his team success”.

The Speaker answered the questions and noted that he will speak about the future plans in details in the nearest days in the traditional format – in media center of the Parliament.