Republican Party MPs ready to enter parliament only to vote for zero electoral threshold
Khatuna Samnidze and Tamar Kordzaia are among the opposition politicians have qualified for parliamentary seats in recent elections. However, they refuse to take up their mandates. Photo from Imedinews.ge
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Two members of opposition Republican Party Khatuna Samnidze and Tamar Kordzaia are ready to enter parliament if the ruling Georgian Dream party proposes a bill on zero electoral threshold for proportional list. However, following the voting they would again revoke their mandates.
Samnidze told Netgazeti online media outlet earlier today that the Republican Party remains committed to its previously declared position and refuses the parliamentary seats.
Opposition and their supporters held protest rallies in front of the parlaiment building in downtown Tbilisi demanding repeat parliamentary elections be held. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Republican party members - Samnidze and Kordzaia - are among the 36 MPs qualified for the parliamentary seats within the United National Movement - Strength in Unity bloc.
Although the Republican Party had not yet discussed the issue with other members of the bloc, Samnidze told Netgazeti that if the Georgian Dream registered the above bill it would also be highly supported by other opposition politicians.
We will call on the ruling party to register the bill… We are ready to participate in the voting”, Samnidze said.
She further noted that the two are not going to use their parliamentary mandates for any other reason but to ensure a legislation excluding ‘a single-party parliament’ or a ‘state capture’.
The 10th convocation of the parliament of Georgia held its first session on December 11. However, no opposition MPs from the eight parties and election blocs that were voted into parliament attended the session. Photo: Parliament/Facebook
The constitutional changes aimed to decrease the electoral threshold needs a total of 113 votes of the 150-member parliament which is now comprised of only 96 MPs.
- Four members of pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots opposition leave party, enter parliament
- Two more opposition MPs enter parliament
As of now only six opposition politicians have taken up their mandates following the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Earlier this month the ruling party MPs did not suspend the mandates of the 51, who refuse to take up their mandates claiming the parliamentary elections were rigged in favour of the ruling party.
United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said earlier today that the refusal of parliament to vote for the suspension of status for 51 opposition MPs yesterday ‘was an opportunity that will allow the parties a little bit more time to bridge their differences if they can’.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell, who is one of the facilitators in the ongoing election talks between the ruling party and the opposition, says that the refusal of parliament to vote for the suspension of status for 51 opposition MPs yesterday was ‘the right step.’
The Georgian parliament has not suspended the MP status of 51 opposition MPs earlier today per their request. None of the ruling party MPs, who are 90 in the 150-member parliament, voted for the cancellation of MP status. Member of the United National Movement opposition party Roman Gotsiridze has stated that the ruling party ‘is afraid of the reactions of international partners’ and that is why they refused to vote for the suspension of status for opposition MPs.
Three MPs from the Girchi libertarian party have asked the ruling Georgian Dream party not to vote for the suspension of MP status for 51 opposition MPs tomorrow per their request.