Two rallies underway in Tbilisi demanding proportional parliamentary elections
People have been blocking Rustaveli Avenue for several days now, demanding snap proportional elections conducted by an interim government. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Opposition and civic activists are holding two parallel rallies protesting the parliament’s rejection of an electoral bill aimed at moving from a mixed system to a proportional one.
In his address in front of the parliament of Georgia on Rustaveli Avenue, the European Georgian MP Davit Bakradze said “our main goal today is to put a huge political fullstop to the Georgian Dream and [its chairman] Bidzina Ivanishvili”.
We will do that by all means, because today the Georgian society is cheated, because the Georgian society is angry”, he addressed the demonstrators.
It is noteworthy that the European Georgia, which is a parliamentary opposition, announced to boycott parliamentary activities until the ruling party keeps its promise to change the electoral bill from 2020.
Nonparliamentary United National Movement member Grigol Vashadze called on everyone to block the parliament building as “this body has lost all of its legitimacy”.
A demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia started at 3 p.m. today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
At a separate rally at the Republic Square, the Alliance of Patriots leader Irma Inashvili said the government should “make a compromise” and introduce proportional election system starting next hear.
Reponsing to the oppositions’ demands, the ruling party MP Gia Volski said blocking the parliament is “against the state interests”.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Earlier today, the Interior Ministry announced that police will ensure safety and public order at the protest rallies in downtown Tbilisi today, as well as the freedom of expression of demonstrators.
However, it also said that any violation of the law, including an attempt to storm or block an administrative body, will be resolved by the police within the framework of the law.
The Georgian Interior Ministry announced that police will ensure safety and public order at the protest rallies in downtown Tbilisi today, as well as the freedom of expression of demonstrators. The ministry also said that any violation of the law, including an attempt to storm or block an administrative body, will be resolved by the police within the framework of the law.
Opposition and civic activists are holding demonstrations today amid the parliament’s rejection of the electoral bill aimed to move from a mixed electoral system to a proportional one. Some parliamentary and nonparliamentary opposition parties will gather in front of the parliament of Georgia in downtown Tbilisi at 3 p.m., while another part - at nearby Republic Square at 5 p.m.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia spoke of the importance of a proportional electoral system yesterday, saying it would “qualitatively change” the political culture in Georgia. “We should remember that the country will have a proportional system as we have stated it in the constitution starting 2024”, Gakharia stated.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party says that public trust and support and not electoral systems wins elections, responding to the tension triggered after the rejection of the GD proposed election bill yesterday, offering the transition to a fully proportional electoral system from 2020 instead of 2024.“The election reform is still in progress, and with the maximal fulfilment of OSCE recommendations, it will lead to even more transparent and fair election environment for the next year,” Talakvadze said.
Participants of a protest rally at Rustaveli Avenue in downtown Tbilisi have blocked the entrances of the parliament of Georgia with tents.