Burjanadze Says Parliamentary Polls to be Held in March

Interim President Nino Burjanadze said on January 6 the repeat parliamentary elections would be held in the second half of March, adding that the exact date will be defined in the nearest days.

“We are holding consultations with the representatives of parliamentary factions and parties in order to achieve consensus over the date of elections,” Nino Burjanadze stated. 

Several parties, including the New Rights, the Industry will Save Georgia and the Labor Party, which are in the opposition to the current authorities, are against holding of elections in March, claiming that it will be impossible to create a competitive environment by that time.

The New Rights party statement reads that parliamentary elections in coming months “will bring an end to political pluralism in Georgia, and the country will get a single-party parliament with no real opposition force to balance it.”

The opposition parties demand parliamentary elections to be held in May or June. The OSCE also recommended the Georgian authorities to hold voting for the later date.

Last November the Supreme Court canceled the results of the proportional component of the November 2 parliamentary elections. While the MPs elected through 75 single-mandate constituencies were permitted to stand.