Time in Tbilisi: March 19, 2024 13:01
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the united opposition have reached an agreement on holding 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.
The agreement also foresees a fair composition of election districts, a 1% threshold, and a cap recognising that no single party that wins less than 40% of the votes should be able to get its own majority in the next parliament.
In a memorandum of understanding issued after the meeting, the political parties declared “full support” for the above changes and commitment to ensure their affirmative votes in the Parliament “to pass the constitutional amendments”.
The undersigned parties have also jointly stated that the ongoing dialogue aimed to ensure “free and fair” parliamentary elections in 2020 “that reflect the will of the Georgian people”.
While differences remain, we all agree on the necessity of addressing actions that could be perceived as inappropriate politicisation of Georgia’s judicial and electoral processes and of avoiding any such actions in the future”, the parties said in a joint statement earlier today.
They also welcomed Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili’s offer “to facilitate, within her constitutional powers, a free, fair, and transparent electoral process”.
Tbilisi Mayor and ruling party Secretary General Kakha Kaladze has shared the news on Twitter:
Georgian Dream has achieved consensus with the opposition on the election system for 2020. 120/30 with 1% threshold. Georgian democracy is progressing rapidly under Georgian Dream. pic.twitter.com/ZKL5Dff1c5
— Kakha Kaladze (@kakhakala) March 8, 2020
Foreign diplomats, who have been facilitating the political dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties for a couple of months now, have congratulated the participants on today’s “successful agreement”.
They said this agreement “represents a crucial step towards depolarisation and normalisation of the political environment in Georgia in the run-up to the parliamentary elections later this year”.
We recognise today’s agreement as a stepping-stone on Georgia’s democratic path. We call on all sides to adhere to it and to safeguard its successful adoption in Parliament and subsequent implementation, for the benefit of the people and country of Georgia”, the facilitators stated.
Head of the European Union delegation to Georgia, who was one of the facilitators of the political dialogue has welcomed the dialogue on Twitter:
Agreement in the dialogue! Crucial step towards depolarisation in the interest of the people and country of Georgia. Congratulations to all! https://t.co/rlI1wavjpe
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) March 8, 2020
United States Congressman Adam Kinzinger has also congratulated the Georgian people:
My heartfelt “congrats” to the people of #Georgia for reaching an agreement on the 2020 parliamentary elections. Democracy is hard work, but worth it. Speaker Talakvadze and many others deserve appreciation for their work. Larger statement to follow later.
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) March 8, 2020
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) Secretary General and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze says that GD has made two offers to the opposition on how to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections. Kaladze says that the offers pertain to the distribution of seats in the 150-member parliament. He stated that there is disagreement within the opposition which makes it difficult to reach an agreement.
The opposition leader Giorgi Vashadze says that the ruling Georgian Dream party has made a new offer - a 110/40 electoral model - for the parliamentary elections later this year, with 110 seats in the legislative body distributed via proportional voting and the remaining 40 via the majoritarian system.
The Georgian opposition parties plan to nominate joint majoritarian candidates if the upcoming parliamentary elections later this year will be held per the existing electoral system, with 77 seats in the legislative body distributed via proportional voting and the remaining 73 via the majoritarian system.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its opinion on the draft amendments to the election code of Georgia that "the choice of the electoral system is a sovereign decision of the state, so long as the chosen electoral system is consistent with the state’s obligations under international law. International standards do not prescribe the choice of electoral systems".
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that yesterday's agreement between the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the opposition on how to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections is an ‘important step’ to further strengthen democracy in Georgia, decrease polarisation and help the stable development of the country.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has denied the reports of the opposition that per the election agreement yesterday several opposition leaders will be released from prison. Leader of New Georgia opposition party Giorgi Vashadze said that the opposition agreed with the ruling party yesterday that the leader of the European Georgia Gigi Ugulava, who has been convicted for the embezzlement of 48 million GEL state funds,
Several opposition parties adopted a joint statement earlier today, after making an election deal with the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party yesterday, stating that despite the agreement on the 2020 elections, the ruling party and the opposition still fail to agree about the status of people ‘detained on political grounds.’
Foreign leaders and diplomats have congratulated Georgia for coming to an agreement about the electoral system for the 2020 parliamentary elections, which will feature a 120/30 distribution between proportional and majoritarian votes.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party says that unlike the opposition it is capable of presenting a new team for the upcoming, 2020 parliamentary elections which is ‘crucial for victory.’
US Senators Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,and Jeanne Shaheen,a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, have welcomed a recent agreement between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on how to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections, stating that making the deal will benefit the democratic development of the country.
The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party has denied to participate in parliament's work despite the recent election deal with the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party last week, stating that not all conditions of the agreement have been fulfilled.
The US Department of State has welcomed an agreement between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on how to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections, stating that is a ‘crucial step towards depolarisation and normalisation of the political environment in Georgia,’ in the run-up to the race.
A bill has been registered in parliament per the agreement of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the opposition on March 8.
Co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the monitoring of Georgia, Titus Corlatean and Claude Kern, have stated that the March 8 election agreement between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition ‘offers a window of opportunity for Georgia’s democratic consolidation.’
Transparency International Georgia has urged the Georgian Dream government to start discussions as to how to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections in the autumn in a safe environment amid coronavirus-related restrictions.
A Lithuanian politician and member of the European Parliament Andrius Kubilius has urged the Georgian Dream government to abide by the March 8 election agreement with the opposition, and raised concerns regarding the recent conviction of several opposition leaders and members.
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch has posted on his Twitter account that he expects political parties in Georgia to fully implement the March 8 agreement. At the same time Risch shared a statement released by the US Embassy on the March 8 agreement.
Georgian opposition parties, who came to an agreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party on March 8 on how to hold the 2020 elections, will resume discussions later today on how to make the government ‘fully abide with the agreement’ and ‘release imprisoned opposition leaders’.
Parliamentary and non-parliamentary opposition members, who resumed discussions earlier today, said in a joint statement that the March 8 election agreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party is doomed to fail if the government ‘won’t fully abide by the agreement’ and remain opposition leaders behind cells.
Foreign ambassadors in Georgia, who have been facilitating the political dialogue between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition over the 2020 parliamentary election model, welcomed President Salome Zurabishvili’s decision to pardon opposition politicians Gigi Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili.
Public discussions of the election bill which was drafted per the March 8 ruling party-opposition agreement, will kick off on June 4, at 10 a.m. via the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
Voters at the upcoming parliamentary elections in October will be required to observe two-meter social distancing regulations, and all individuals entering polling stations will be thermo screened, Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze told IPN news agency today.
The United National Movement opposition (UNM) says that ‘as the biggest opposition party’ they will not nominate candidates in six of eight majoritarian constituencies in Tbilisi, allowing other opposition candidates, from the united opposition, ‘to win the race.’
Tbilisi City Court has once again refused bail for the co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua, who has been charged with the illegal possession of firearms.
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.
Georgian opposition parties have named six of eight joint majoritarian candidates for Tbilisi in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Autumn.
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.
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.
The Georgian parliament has passed the election bill in its second reading earlier today, with 115 MPs in the 150-member parliament voting in favour. The United National Movement and the European Georgia opposition parties, who support the amendments, refused to participate in the vote as they demand the release of co-founder of opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua.
The co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua is not mentioned in the 8 March agreement, says German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch expressing surprise that this is a subject of discussion between the political parties.
The denial came several hours before the ‘historic vote’ of election bill in parliament today which proposes a more proportional electoral system for the autumn parliamentary elections, per the ruling party and the opposition March 8 election agreement.
The Georgian parliament has passed the election bill drafted with the mediation of the diplomatic corps in its third and final reading earlier today. 117 MPs voted for and three went against the bill which will institute a more proportional electoral system for this autumn’s parliamentary elections. The United National Movement and European Georgia opposition parties refused to participate in the vote, stating that with the continued incarceration of the co-founder of opposition-minded TV channel Giorgi Rurua, the ruling party ‘did not fully abide by the March 8 election agreement.’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that through the passing of the election bill earlier today, ‘Georgia has taken another important step to ensure its European and Euro-Atlantic future.’"The new electoral system which was adopted demonstrates the Georgian Dream's strong will to consistently implement the most important changes for the country, which no other political force has been able to achieve, and which serves to further consolidate a European parliamentary democracy in Georgia,” Gakharia said.
Foreign ambassadors who facilitated the election talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition, resulting in the March 8 election agreement, have welcomed the adoption of the election bill in its third and final reading earlier today.
The Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has signed the bill of amendments to the election system, calling the constitutional changes a serious step towards democracy and stability. The Georgian parliament has passed an election bill drafted with the mediation of the diplomatic corps in its third and final reading earlier today.
MEP Marina Kaljurand, who chairs the delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee, and the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Georgia MEP Sven Mikser have welcomed the adoption of the Georgian election bill yesterday, stating that the passing of the constitutional amendments is ‘an important milestone in the development of Georgia’s democratic life.’
German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch, who was one of the facilitators in the ruling Georgian Dream party and the united opposition’s election talks, says that he is surprised by critical comments made against him which came after his statement regarding the imprisoned co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua and the election agreement.
The United National Movement MP Roman Gotsiridze says that the party will have individual candidates in the regions with some exceptions.
Notes have been added to the Georgia section of the US Fiscal Year 2021 State and Foreign Operations Funding bill, released by the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on July 6.
The co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua was found guilty for the illegal possession and carrying of firearms and has been sentenced to four years in prison by Tbilisi City Court earlier today.
Twenty Georgian opposition parties released a joint statement earlier today in which they said that the recent conviction of a co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua has political grounds.
About 30 opposition parties in Georgia have adopted a joint declaration on the upcoming October elections at a meeting held in the office of the Labour Party today.
The Labour Party has announced it will put forward Irakli Okruashvili as the joint opposition candidate in Saburtalo constituency and Zurab Japaridze in the Didube-Chugureti constituency, announces party leader Shalva Natelashvil.
Twenty-three opposition parties in Georgia have signed a memorandum to ensure the integrity of the upcoming October elections.
Opposition parties in Georgia demand the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia be prohibited from running in the October parliamentary elections following the release of an investigation of the Dossier Center, which tracks the criminal activities associated with the Kremlin.
The Georgian government is ready to charter flights to bring in international observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections that will be held on October 31, says the Chairman of the Parliament, Archil Talakvadze.
Coercion and intimidation of voters or the violation of vote secrecy will become criminally liable in Georgia as part of a series of amendments to the election code proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Violation of vote secrecy or coercion of a voter will result in a fine or house arrest for a period from six months to two years or imprisonment for about three years.
Five Georgian opposition parties have signed an agreement on a justice reform earlier today which includes the shutting down of the State Security Service, the Interior Ministry decentralisation and cutting the rights of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.
OSCE/ODIHR will send 350 short-term and 28 long-term observers for Georgia’s October 31 parliamentary elections, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated earlier today.
Germany will send 37 observers for Georgia’s October 31 parliamentary elections in the coming days, while the rest will visit the country by the end of September, German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on September 17.
Special police groups will be created in Georgian regions to ensure the October 31 parliamentary elections be held in a free and safe environment, a new decree signed by Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri says.