Opposition Leader: 100/50 System is Comical and Even Funny

Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, has responded to compromise version of the election system, 100/50, offered to the opposition by the ruling party Georgian Dream, claiming that no one will accept this model, as it is "comical and even funny."

He added that the demand and order of the population is proportional elections or a system that is reflected in the so-called 'German model'.

"It is clear why the Georgian Dream is thinking of new lies to justify itself, but no one believes them anymore. The 100/50 system is comical and even funny, no one will accept it. We are not only dependent on each other, but we are also accountable to the people; the demand of the population is proportional elections or a system that is reflected in the so-called 'German model'. Whatever electoral system we have to enter the pre-election campaign, the government will inevitably fail, especially when there will be maximum coordination between the opposition parties,” Melia said.

As another opposition leader, Otar Kakhidze, said earlier today, the opposition is preparing new proposals for the ruling party. 

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

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."

The ruling party proposes a political spectrum to maintain the current mixed electoral system, though increasing proportional share in it to 2/3. As the Chairman of the Parliament Archil Talakvadze explained, in case of agreement, 100 deputies will be elected through a proportional system, while the majoritarian mandates will be reduced to 50.

By Ana Dumbadze 

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