CEC Chairman Resigns

(Tbilisi, June 3, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Reports say today that the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Jumber Lominadze resigned.

At the special Parliamentary session today the opposition factions demand to vote for disbanding of the Central Election Commission.

“After Jumber Lominadze’s decision another members of the CEC also resigned, that is why we should disband existing CEC and create the new one,” Zurab Zhvania leader of the United Democrats said at the Parliamentary session today.

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said, 6 members of the Central Election Commission were reported to have filed resignation. Under the preliminary information, 4 more members from the Labor and the Revival parties joined them later. So, 10 members of CEC decided to resign.

This number is enough to consider CEC disbanded. The Parliament intends to vote in the regard. However the leader of the pro-governmental Parliamentary faction Citizens’ Union Vitali Khazaradze said that no official appeal on resignation has been submitted to the President by Jumber Lominadze so far.

Last week pro-governmental factions voted against disbanding of the CEC.

The mass protest rally continues in front of the Parliament demanding creation of the new CEC and the fair Parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 2.