NGOs call on ruling party to support electoral bill offering lower election threshold

The Georgian NGOs have called on the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party to support the electoral bill which offers a two percent election threshold for the next two parliamentary elections, along with a fully proportional electoral system. 

 

The bill was approved on its first reading in September of this year. 

 

However, the GD says now that it may not support the bill as the existing system which ensures a five percent election threshold and a fully proportional electoral system starting 2024 is ‘absolutely acceptable and is in line with international standards.’ 

 

Eighteen NGOs, however, say in a joint statement released today that the approval of the bill is crucial for a more pluralist Georgian parliament, for the decrease of political polarization and for the ‘state interests.’ They urged the GD to ‘keep its promise to support the bill,’ despite the party withdrew from the April 2021 EU-mediated agreement, obliging the ruling party and the opposition to support the amendments. 

 

Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze says that if the party accepts the two percent election threshold for next parliamentary elections, it will be a ‘gift’ for the opposition. 

 

He reiterated yesterday that the party ‘has no obligation to act in line with the EU-mediated  agreement.  

 

However, he noted that the party will observe the behaviour of the opposition and will make a final decision whether or not to support the bill. He said that ‘anyway, the change (if we accept it) will concern elections for 2024 and no snap elections.’   Two readings are still ahead

 

for the final approval of the bill which needs the support of at least 113 MPs in the 150-member state legislature.  The ruling party has 90 MPs in parliament.