Parliament adopts constitutional amendments

Georgian Parliament has adopted the draft constitutional changes at their third and final hearing today.

Out of the 119 lawmakers who had registered to vote on the draft, 117 voted in favour and two went against.

Opposition members of the parliament did not participate in the vote.

The constitutional amendments will come into force following the 2018 presidential elections.

These are some of the key amendments into the constitution:

• Georgia will switch to fully proportional elections in 2024;
• The 2020 parliamentary elections will still be held through the existing mixed proportional and majoritarian system but the election threshold will be lowered to 3 percent from 5 percent for these elections only;
• The president will be elected by a special council starting in 2024;
• In 2018 the president will still be elected directly but for a six and not a five year term.
• Selling agricultural lands to foreign nationals will be prohibited.
• The opposition rights in parliament will be boosted, permitting them to create investigative commissions and others.

This morning, before the Parliament voted on the constitutional amendments, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated that Georgia could be proud of the document which "ensures balance between state institutions, a strong parliament, effective government, fair court and an impartial president”.