ISFED: simplified election rules for Central Election Commision head, members against EU-mediated agreement
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy is against proposed changes to the election procedures of the country’s Central Election Commission head and members. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) says that if the Georgian parliament approves ‘simplified procedures’ for the election of the head of the country’s Central Election Commission (CEC) and its members it will be ‘another deviation’ from the April 2021 EU-mediated agreement.
Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee approved changes to the election rules for the CEC chair and members yesterday.
According to the changes, which need to be approved by the state legislature with three readings, the CEC chair and members can be elected immediately with a simple majority (at least 76 MPs in the 150-member parliament) if the first vote, which requires the support of ⅔ of 150-MPs, fails.
The proposed change in the rules for electing the @cecgovge Chairperson and professional members is another violation of the #April19Agreement initiated by @eucopresident. Read more: https://t.co/iHXd2euJOS #Gvote #Elections #Georgia
— ISFED (@isfed_official) December 14, 2021
In accordance with existing rules which were adopted following the EU-mediated agreement, the CEC chair and members are elected with a ⅔ supermajority of parliament.
If the vote is unsuccessful, another vote must be held with the same threshold in no earlier than four weeks.
If MPs fail again to elect the candidates, subsequent votes must first require a ⅗ majority and then a simple majority, to be held within the same timeframe.
ISFED says that the new rules were elaborated without the engagement of the opposition and that if the rules are approved, they will benefit the interests of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The election watchdog called on the ruling party to ‘express the political will’ to make a large consensus decision on the topic.
It also encouraged the opposition to participate in the selection process for CEC chair and members.