Opposition Preparing New Proposals for Ruling Party

"The opposition is preparing new proposals for the ruling party Georgian Dream," one of the leaders of European Georgia Otar Kakhidze said earlier today. 

"The 130-20, 135-15 systems and similar configurations are being actively considered by the opposition," he added. 

Another meeting aimed at discussing the electoral system is scheduled for today between the majority and opposition representatives.

Four rounds of talks have already been held between the government and the opposition upon the initiative of foreign diplomats and international partners, aiming at reaching a consensus over amending the electoral system. However, all the previous meetings have ended without agreements or results. 

The meetings followed the rejection of the GD-proposed election bill on November 14, which aimed to move to a fully proportional electoral system from 2020 instead of 2024.

The opposition demanded a mixed electoral system for the 2020 elections based on the German model, which distributes seats in parliament based on votes received in proportional elections. However, the proposal was rejected by the ruling party members, as they claimed the so-called German Model is "inappropriate for the Constitution of Georgia."

Tbilisi Mayor and the Secretary General of the Georgian Dream party, Kakha Kaladze, stated on Friday that the ruling team had offered a compromise version of the election system to the opposition – 100/50, and if the opposition did not accept this offer, the elections would be held under the existing mixed system.

By Ana Dumbadze 

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