Two protest rallies to be held in Tbilisi today
People have been blocking Rustaveli Avenue for several days now, demanding snap proportional elections conducted by an interim government. Photo: Nastasia Arabuli/Radio Liberty
Tweet 
Share
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, including the United National Movement, European Georgia, Labour Party, Democratic Movement-United Georgia, Lelo and Girchi, will join the demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia in downtown Tbilisi at 3 p.m.
People have been blocking Rustaveli Avenue for several days now, demanding snap proportional elections conducted by an interim government.
Other parliamentary factions, in particular, the Alliance of Patriots, will gather at Republic Square at 5 p.m. demanding the ruling party’s resignation. Later, they will march to the Opera House at Rustaveli Avenue, close to another demonstration venue.
Several ultra-nationalist groups, including businessman Levan Vasadze and the Georgian March plan to join the Alliance of Patriots.
Watch Maestro TV's video from Rustaveli Avenue, where protesters have been staying overnight for several days, after the parliament downvoted the bill:
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy to Georgia has alerted the US government personnel “to avoid large crowds and demonstrations and prepare for anticipated traffic delays and sporadic disruptions in that area due to crowds and an additional police presence”.
The ruling party-proposed bill aimed to holding 2020 parliamentary elections fully proportional, was scrapped, as only 101 MPs voted for it instead of mandatory 113 in the 150-member parliament.
All of those 40 MPs who either voted against or abstained were from the ruling party, while all of the opposition legislators voted in favour. After the rejection of the bill, a total of 12 MPs, who had voted in favour, left the ruling party.
However, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and other ruling party members said that the country will have a proportional system "as we have stated it in the constitution starting 2024".
Sophio Katsarava, the former chairperson of the foreign relations committee of the parliament of Georgia has resigned as MP. “Today I have made a very difficult decision, however, from my viewpoint, this is the only right decision”, she announced on Facebook.
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.
Georgian opposition parties and young civic activists who participated in June’s anti-occupation rallies have set out their main demands after the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party proposed election bill was scrapped on Thursday.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party proposed bill on holding of 2020 parliamentary elections with a fully proportional voting system and a zero threshold has been scrapped as 101 MPs instead of mandatory 113 voted for it. 141 of total 150 MPs have been registered for the vote earlier today. However, 37 abstained from voting and three voted against.
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 two parallel rallies protesting the parliament’s rejection of an electoral bill aimed at moving from a mixed system to a proportional one.
Participants of a protest rally at Rustaveli Avenue in downtown Tbilisi have blocked the entrances of the parliament of Georgia with tents.
The US Embassy to Georgia and the EU delegation to the county have released a joint statement amid public protests in Tbilisi triggered by the rejection of an election bill, urging for “immediate work to restore trust through a calm and respectful dialogue between the government and all political parties and civil society with a view to finding an acceptable path forward.”
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has refused to discuss any new initiatives regarding the electoral system, responding to the protests in Tbilisi demanding a fully proportional electoral system from 2020. Secretary General of the ruling party Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has stated after a party meeting earlier today that the 2020 parliamentary elections will be held with a mixed-electoral system, as parliament rejected the ruling party proposed bill on the move to the fully proportional elections last Thursday.