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.
Foreign ambassadors have urged all parties of the March election agreement to ‘fully abide by the terms’ as Georgian parliament will vote on the election bill drafted per the agreement, in its first reading, on Sunday.
Georgian opposition parties have named six of eight joint majoritarian candidates for Tbilisi in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Autumn.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakaharia has responded to the President of the European People's Party (EPP) and former head of the European Council Donald Tusk, who urged the Georgian Dream government to ‘fully abide by the March 8 election agreement’ and release co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua.
The Georgian parliament will discuss a bill regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections in the autumn on Sunday, June 21, in its first reading.
EU, US ambassadors have welcomed the passing of an election bill in its first reading yesterday, which was drafted per the agreement between the ruling party and the opposition in talks mediated by the diplomatic corps back in March.
Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze says that the current epidemiological situation in Georgia will allow for elections to be held, studies to begin and other activities to be expanded.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has released a statement earlier today, saying that Georgia’s ‘radical opposition’ chooses ‘anti-western’ statements and campaigns, while the choice of the Georgian people is 'to further consolidate Georgian democracy and to ensure the full realisation of Georgia's Western aspirations'.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said Germany is a friend and a strong supporter of Georgia, whose role in Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration is of the ‘utmost importance’. “Everyone should understand that in Georgia [foreign] ambassadors represent their governments and any attack against them insults their respective countries”, he said.
Ruling party MP, former parliament speaker Irakli Kobakhidze says that international observers will be able to monitor the autumn parliamentary elections in Georgia, responding to speculations that the government is ‘deliberately maintaining’ travel restrictions to create obstacles for international observers.
The Georgian Dream ruling party is likely to receive 39 per cent of votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections in October, says the recently published US Edison Research’s polls, commissioned by Georgian channel Formula TV.
Georgia has drafted a special safety protocol for foreign observers who will monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections in October, Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze stated earlier today.
There are 263 political parties registered in Georgia. However, only 80 of them are active, says Georgia’s State Audit Office.
The parliament of Georgia has today approved amendments to the Law of Georgia on Competition that sets the principles for protecting free and fair competition from unlawful restrictions in order to spur on the development of free trade and a competitive market.