Ethical codes of political behavior in Georgia - a factor in ensuring fair elections

Abstract

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the establishment of Georgia as an independent state, a period of intense engagement between Georgia and the European Union commenced in 1991-1992. (Chronology of significant events in the relationship between Georgia and the European Union) The country's foreign policy is based on the strategic goal of joining the European Union, which is founded on the principles of civilizational harmony and the will of the general public to become a full-fledged and worthy member of the Commonwealth of Democratic Countries. (Foreign policy strategy) The process of integration into the European Union is a complex and multifaceted issue that necessitates social, political, and economic transformations, enabling the country to align with European values and standards and to engage in close cooperation with the institutions of the European Union. Despite the fact that the democratic development of the country and the aspiration towards European integration are the driving force of the reforms implemented in Georgia, significant challenges are encountered on the aforementioned path that prevent the advancement of Georgia's European aspirations. On 8 November 2023, the European Commission published a report on enlargement policy, assessing the progress of EU candidate countries on their path to membership. In the aforementioned report, the European Commission recommended that the European Council grant Georgia candidate status, provided that the country takes significant steps in nine key areas. The aforementioned reservations include a number of reforms to be carried out in various areas, namely the elimination of challenges in the legal, social, political, and economic spheres, which prevent progress towards European integration. One of the most significant concerns regarding Georgia is the provision of fair and free elections. The fundamental principle of a democratic state is the free expression of the will of the people, which implies the use of their rights by the voters and candidates in accordance with the principles of justice and the observance of legality, in order to obtain election results that reflect the opinion of the people. Across Europe, the right to free choice is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (Council of Europe, 2020). Georgia has been engaged in the process of democratic development for several decades. However, the country is currently facing significant challenges in terms of conducting fair and transparent elections. The disregard for election laws, corruption, and other forms of misconduct are commonplace, which prevent citizens from making free and informed choices. The current situation is further compounded by the extreme nature of political polarization between political parties and the lack of consensus. The resolution of the issues pertaining to the electoral process in Georgia necessitates a comprehensive approach, the effective functioning of electoral institutions, and the sharing of European and international experience in the domains of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. One of the government's strategies for achieving the aforementioned objectives is to convene an OSCE/ODIR long-term observation mission for the 2024 parliamentary elections. Another is to promote effective cooperation between relevant authorities and monitoring organizations. Additionally, the government plans to make changes to the party and election code related to the issue of election financing. (The steps defined for Georgia in the communication on the European Commission's 2023 enlargement policy, 2023) The legal and democratic nature of elections is contingent upon the high civil responsibility of all actors involved in the election process, as well as the education and informing of society about election issues. (Jalaghonia, 2021) In addition to legal regulations in European democratic states, the development and implementation of political ethics codes at all levels of state administration are considered important levers to eliminate election violations and ensure a transparent, competitive election process. It is recognized that the development of pre-election codes of ethics is an important tool for conducting the election process in a legal and moral environment. Consequently, it is imperative that states implement the requisite institutional measures to achieve democratic objectives and develop policies that will facilitate the establishment of a neutral, impartial, and balanced mechanism for the management of elections. (Norris, 2014) Within the framework of the present study, we aim to address the question of how ethical codes of political behavior contribute to ensuring fair and free elections in Georgia, and what challenges exist in relation to the introduction of pre-election ethical codes. The report aims to examine the role of ethical codes of political behavior in the process of ensuring fair and free elections, using Georgia as an example. The research tasks include studying the following main issues: - Analysis of existing literature on the role and importance of ethical codes in ensuring fair and free elections. - Examination of issues related to the development of pre-election ethics codes and the capacity of political parties in Georgia. - Study of codes of ethics of election administration and public officials in Georgia. - Evaluation of the importance of voter ethics in ensuring democratic and legal elections. - Identification and study of problems related to the implementation of ethics codes and capacity in the electoral process. The research will employ methods such as document analysis, qualitative content analysis, and in-depth interviews. Literature on the subject, government documents, codes of ethics, and reports from local and international organizations were examined. Additionally, in-depth interviews based on a semi-structured questionnaire were conducted with representatives of political parties and experts, providing important insights into the effectiveness and challenges of ethics codes in the electoral process.