Ruling party vows approval of electoral amendments after EU grants Georgia candidate status

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party head Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that the GD was ready to approve electoral amendments on a two percent election threshold and a fully-proportional system starting 2024 “no later than one month after the European Council decides on Georgia’s candidate status in Demember.”

Kobakhidze suggested that receiving the status would decrease the level of political polarization in the country and remove the threats related to a lower threshold.

“We promise to the European Council and the Commission to  approve the amendments,” Kobakhidze said.

“As it is known, the higher the degree of polarization, the higher the threshold is advisable, and the reduction of polarization seriously reduces the risks associated with lowering the threshold. Therefore, there is a direct logical connection between obtaining candidate status, reducing polarization and the feasibility of setting a low threshold,” Kobakhidze added.

He said that the GD would be able to receive the majority of the vote even in the case of a low threshold.

The opposition is demanding the GD to approve the amendments until the EU Council meets for the decision on Georgia’s candidacy.