Georgian Parliament passes electoral bill in first hearing
The amendments are only for the 2020 elections as, according to the Georgian constitution, the country will transfer to a fully proportional election from 2024. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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With 136 votes in favour and five against, the Georgian parliament has passed an electoral bill establishing a more proportional electoral system in its first hearing today.
On March 8, 2020 the ruling Georgian Dream party and the united opposition agreed to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections this October with 120 seats in the legislative body to be distributed via a proportional vote and the remaining 30 via the majoritarian system.
Ahead of the vote, foreign ambassadors, who have mediated the negotiations between the political opponents, have urged all parties to ‘fully abide by the terms’ of the March 8 deal.
In his recent statement, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice- President of European Commission Josep Borrell also hoped ‘to see support by all sides to constitutional amendments for a new election system’.
8 March agreement in Georgia was a historic achievement. As next crucial step, we hope to see support by all sides to constitutional amendments for a new election system. The EU will monitor closely the continued implementation of all 8 March commitments in view of elections
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 19, 2020
The bill, proposed by the ruling Geoorgian Dream party per its agreement with the opposition in March, says that 120 seats in parliament will be distributed based on the votes received in proportional elections, while remaining 30 per the votes received in majoritarian elections.
The amendments are only for the 2020 elections as, according to the Georgian constitution, the country will transfer to a fully proportional election from 2024.