CoE/Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Congress Urges Georgia to Revive Political Talks
The Congress has urged Georgian authorities to resume inclusive political dialogue at all levels of government and with all stakeholders – including local authorities, opposition and civil society – in order to reduce polarisation, restore the checks and balances essential in a pluralist democracy and regulate the participation rights of the opposition. This is indispensable to restore the conditions for a democratic environment ahead of the 2025 local elections.
In its resolution and recommendation based on a report presented by Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) and Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, SOC/G/PD) on 26 March 2025 during its 48th session, the Congress noted with concern that the rapid democratic backsliding observed in Georgia over the past two years has increasingly affected local democracy in the country.
The marginalisation of the opposition and the lack of dialogue with the ruling authorities has led to a de facto absence of political pluralism, including in municipal councils, and to an excessive concentration of power by the ruling party, prompting the opposition to boycott all decision-making bodies.
Consequently, the shortcomings and challenges affecting the respect of democracy, rule of law and human rights have led to a collapse in public confidence in democratic institutions for large parts of the Georgian population, and notably the young people, and damaged local democracy, which is not conducive to holding the 2025 local elections in a trust-based environment.
The Congress called on Georgian authorities to repeal legislation in breach of human rights, in particular the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, and avoid taking any actions that would impede the indispensable work of civil society; investigate arbitrary arrests and violent actions towards non-violent protesters and journalists at local level, release those who are detained and ensure lawfulness and proportionality of sanctions for offences related to public demonstrations in municipalities; as well as to repeal the contentious amendments of the Law on Public Service and reintegrate employees of local public service dismissed on the basis of these provisions.
The Congress further urged Georgian authorities, among others, to repeal the amendments to the Electoral Code adopted in December 2024; undertake legislative reform to address the identified shortcomings; and stop cases of voter intimidation, pressure on public employees, vote buying and electoral violence.
It also called on the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia to ensure that it serves as the representative body of all local authorities, not only those in which the majority of seats are held by the ruling party.
The Congress reaffirmed that local and regional authorities are key in upholding and defending democracy, human rights and rule of law, not only within their communities, but as part of the system of checks and balances which represents the backbone of a genuine pluralistic democracy.
The situation of local and regional democracy in Georgia
https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/congress-urges-georgia-to-resume-political-dialogue-at-all-levels-of-government-1