Georgia’s CEC: law doesn’t “provide for cancellation of candidate registration before recognition of elected MPs authority”

The Central Election Commission of Georgia on Tuesday said the electoral legislation did not provide for the cancellation of the registration of candidates on party lists before the recognition of the authority of newly elected MPs, either through a party request or an individual application.

The election administration pointed out that under the Election Code, “a party participating in the elections has the right to revoke its decision regarding the nomination of a candidate for parliamentary membership remaining on the party list, [only] after the recognition of the authority of the elected members of the Parliament”.

Likewise, candidates for the membership of the Parliament of Georgia may withdraw their candidacy from the party list after the recognition of the authority of elected MPs, by submitting the appropriate application to the CEC”, the Commission added.

The CEC noted its statement came in the wake of the opposition groups - the Unity - National Movement and the Coalition for Change - appeal to the election administration for the abolition of party lists, adding the “parties have chosen the way of manipulation in this matter, as in the case of their election assessments [refusal to recognise the last month’s election results]”, whereby they were "attempting to build up pressure" on the CEC.