Municipal Elections: Peculiarities and Challenges in Georgia

Abstract

After the restoration of independence, in the 90s, along with other vital issues of state importance, the process of bringing municipal democracy closer to the Georgian reality began actively. A number of factors prevented perfecting the local management system in Georgia, therefore, it is still in the process of reforming. The most important component, which enables municipal bodies to function in accordance with modern international standards and is a guarantee of effective self-government, is the rule of their formation. 
 Electiveness, that is, the possibility of people's participation in the creation and activities of municipal bodies, is a visible expression of the exercise of the right of local self-government. It is noteworthy that the municipal elections, in their essence, are characterized by a number of peculiarities and sharply differ from the elections of the central governmental institutions. Accordingly, national states, including Georgia, try to create legislation that is adapted to the political and social reality of their own country and reflects traditions and legislation which will provide the realization of real content of local self-government and the possibility of involvement of the population of the municipal unit. In the relevant electoral legislation, substantial changes were made more than once, which had a positive impact, mainly, on the result of the October 2, 2021 local self-government elections. Additionally, municipal electoral legislation and practice still face challenges, on which answers depends the future of Georgia as a democratic and legal state largely.