Venice Commission ready to cooperate with Georgia on election issues

Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio and Secretary Thomas Markert are in Georgia to exchange views with local authorities on future co-operation.  

During their visit, the Commission officials are expected to discuss co-operation with the State Constitutional Commission and the electoral reform with the Georgian Parliament.  

As Gianni Buquicchio said, Georgia currently needed to focus on agreement not vengeance.  The statement was made at the press conference last night, summarizing the first day of Buquicchios visit.

Yesterday he met with Georgias Minister of Justice, Parliamentary Speaker, Prime Minister and President.

"During the meetings held in Tbilisi I have got the impression that there is a good atmosphere for cooperation, which is very important for Georgia, Buquicchio said.  

"The country needs everyone - the political powers and civil sector - to work together in order to ensure a better society. With this spirit, approach and our modest held, I think the country will be succeeded, he said.  

Buquicchio said he was especially surprised to see the level of agreement in the inter-faction group working on regional-corporative electoral system issues. At the meeting with the inter-faction group members, Buquicchio stressed the problem of disproportional electoral districts.  

"Georgias law on election is good, as it its constitution but it could be improved. The main problem is that the electoral districts come in different sizes. I was surprised that the group managed to agree on regional-corporative electoral system and this will prevent the problem of the different size electoral districts, Buquicchio explained.  

He said the Venice Commission was ready to cooperate with Georgia on election and political parties financing-related issues.  

During his meeting with the Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, the pair discussed the court reform.  

"The first phase of the reform is already completed and the second one is in preparation process. The Ministry is ready to continue cooperation with us also on the second stage and the new text of the document will be submitted to the commission soon, he said.  

In addition, Buquicchio said the amendments that were currently being prepared would prevent judges from moving from their place to other court unless prior approval.  

The Commission representatives will finish their visit today.  

The  Venice Commission  is an advisory body of the  Council of Europe, composed of independent experts in the field of  constitutional law. The Commissions primary task is to assist and advise individual countries in constitutional matters in order to improve functioning of democratic institutions and the protection of human rights.