Page 8 - GEORptApr19

63/100 (100 = Most Free).
The latest survey, issued by US-based watchdog Freedom House late on February 4, makes no changes to Georgia’s scores in the sub-categories of Freedom Rating, Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Georgia again scored 3/7 for each (7 = Least Free).
Freedom House was yet to release the report detailing the reasoning behind the latest scorecard for Georgia.
The organisation entitled its latest report “Democracy in Retreat” in a reflection of events around the world last year.
On February 4, Laura Linderman, a representative of the Atlantic Council, said in an interview with the Voice of America that if democratic progress in Georgia is reversed the country will disappear from the agenda of many western countries , including the US.
Her remarks came with Georgia’s authorities preparing to appoint members of the Supreme Court. Lifetime members of the court will be appointed for the first time under procedures outlined in the country’s new Constitution, which came into force in December. The High Council of Justice will nominate the members who are to be endorsed by Parliament.
"Georgia is distinguished with democratic characteristics in the region and beyond it... If democracy is reversed, Georgia will lose its main component. Georgia is in a difficult neighbourhood, in a difficult situation in terms of security, the economy is growing, but it is not so great compared to other countries. If Georgia loses its democracy, it will disappear from the agenda of many western countries, including the United States," Linderman said.
2.7 Polls & Sociology
Jobs, poverty top Georgians’ agenda
Finding a job is ranked by 51% of Georgians as among their top three issues, followed by poverty (32%) and rising prices (28%), with all three major concerns demonstrating households’ poor economic conditions, according to a US National Democratic Institute (NDI) poll carried out in December.
Support for Georgia taking Nato and EU membership remains robust, but the issue of joining the bloc is seen as rather unimportant, the survey also concluded. Nato membership was mentioned among the top issues by only 4% of respondents, while European Union membership ranked even lower at 2%.
Territorial integrity was seen as a much more important problem, regarded by 24% of respondents as a key issue, given that Georgia has breakaway territories that are defended by Russian armed forces.
Notably, issues related to democracy were mentioned by rather few respondents. Only 4% saw problems related to the court system, although 8% wanted a revamp of the judiciary. Primary concerns related to poverty were the pressing matters.
Some 83% of respondents supported Georgia's integration into the EU, with
8 GEORGIA Country Report April 2019 www.intellinews.com