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"All the restrictions related to cultural and sports events, on which we have imposed restrictions on 200 people, of course, do not apply to the election campaign. However, a 2-metre distance [between participants] must be observed during such assemblies and it is necessary to wear a mask,” Mezvrishvili also stated.
The decision was confirmed on September 11 after 87 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Georgia overnight. The number was a record-high for the country since the virus was first detected in Georgia in February. The number of new cases reported on a daily basis then rose to 158 and 152 in the following two days, respectively.
2.6​ ​EU agrees MoUs for MFA programmes with eight partner countries
The European Commission said on August 11 it agreed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on macro-financial assistance (MFA) programmes with eight partners, including four Western Balkan countries.
The agreements are part of the €3bn macro-financial assistance package for ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners, aimed to help them limit the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
MoUs have already been agreed with Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia as well as with four other partner countries: Georgia, Jordan, Moldova and Ukraine.
The documents have also been formally signed with Kosovo and North Macedonia as well as with Moldova and Ukraine. Negotiations of the MoUs with the remaining two countries – Bosnia & Herzegovina and Tunisia – are underway, the European Commission said.
“The crisis MFA programmes will be provided on favourable terms on the basis of signed MoU outlining concrete reform commitments. It will help the neighbouring countries to cover their external financing needs in 2020-21, given the difficulties in tackling the economic impact of the pandemic,” said Executive Vice-President for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis.
For Georgia's €150mn programme, policy conditions relate to strengthening public finance management, improving governance, sector reforms and labour market policies.
The decision on providing MFA to ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic was proposed by the European Commission on April 22 and adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on May 25.
2.7​ ​Polls & Sociology
Georgian Dream said to have made outstanding comeback during pandemic
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party holds a robust 33-38% share in the opinion polls prior to the October 31 general election, at least double the score of its main rival, the United National Movement (15-16%), while the more moderate opposition party, European Georgia, ranks as third with 4-6% of support among voters.
10​ GEORGIA Country Report ​October 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com