In tweets: foreign leaders, diplomats laud Georgian electoral system agreement
Foreign diplomats write that they recognise the agreement 'as a stepping-stone on Georgia’s democratic path.' Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
We congratulate the participants of the political dialogue on today’s successful agreement, which represents a crucial step towards depolarization and normalization of the political environment in Georgia in the run-up to the parliamentary elections later this year," writes the statement of the foreign diplomats, who have been facilitating the political dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties for several months.
The facilitators write that they recognise the agreement 'as a stepping-stone on Georgia’s democratic path.'
Head of the European Union delegation to Georgia has welcomed the dialogue via 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
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Georgia says that the agreement is 'an important step' to 'build a more responsive democracy.'
This agreement is an important step forward for #Georgia to build a more responsive democracy.@USAIDEurope @USAIDDRG https://t.co/HLymPrMSwa
— USAID Georgia (@USAIDGeorgia) March 9, 2020
Director of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir writes that the agreements is 'very important.'
Glad to see agreement in #Georgia over changes to the election system. Once adopted, this is very important in the run-up to the parliamentary election later this year, pending a thorough assessment by ODIHR election observers on the ground. https://t.co/BfoaMBSXxm
— Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir (@ODIHRdirector) March 8, 2020
Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Georgia Arad Benko says this decision is 'very important breakthrough for political stalemate' in the country.
Very important breakthrough for political stalemate in #Georgia! Dialogue and compromise key for a truly European country. Special thx to @CarlHartzellEU for facilitating the agreement. EU diplomacy at its best! https://t.co/QnQy6x783a
— Arad Benkö (@AradBenkoe) March 8, 2020
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu says that the decision is an 'encouraging step in bolstering democracy in the country.’
The agreement between government and opposition on changes to the electoral system is an encouraging step in bolstering democracy in #Georgia ????????. It is an important milestone in depolarisation & building trust. Sticking to the agreement by all sides and implementation are key.
— Urmas Reinsalu (@UrmasReinsalu) March 9, 2020
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius, Ambassador of Sweden to Georgia and Armenia Ulrik Tidestrom also praised the agreement on the electoral system.
I welcome the agreement between the government and opposition in #Georgia on changes in electoral system, good for Georgia’s democracy, now the implementation is key
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) March 9, 2020
Promising news from #Georgia following the agreement between ruling party & opposition on electoral system - a crucial step forward on Georgia’s democratic path. The implementation remains vital. We continue standing firm by the people of Georgia.
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) March 9, 2020
Welcome that ???????? government and opposition parties reached agreement on election system. Important step towards depolarization and better political environment in run-up to parliamentary elections.
— Ulrik Tideström ???????? (@UTidestrom) March 8, 2020
Foreign Policy Expert and former Executive Director of the McCain Institute Kurt Volker has also written on his twitter account about the agreement as 'great news for Georgia.'
Great news for #Georgia ???????? -- Govt and opposition reach deal on electoral system! Now key is implementation --making 2020 election most free and fair ever! https://t.co/GsABI45I08
— Kurt Volker (@kvolker) March 8, 2020
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.