The Number of the MPs might be reduced
This initiative was proposed by a coalition of CSOs consisting of: The Center for the Protection of Constitutional Rights, Union 21st Century, Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights and Women’s Club PEONI.
“This is a great luxury for a country like Georgia to have 235 MPs in the Parliament,” Nana Kakabadze, of Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights told Advocacy.Ge.
As the other members of the CSO coalition also noted, the major reason for reducing the number of MPs is economic. “This is an artificial increase in the number of MPs. Our country budget cannot afford these kinds of expenses,” said Nana Kakabadze. According to experts, reducing the number of MPs will save up to 3.2 million Lari (approximately USD 1.5 million) on the country’s budget.
Nana Kakabadze also pointed out the problem of gathering enough MP’s to make a quorum during parliamentary sessions. “The citizens were tired of watching this process. That is why they unanimously supported our initiative,” Nana Kakabadze told Advocacy.Ge
She also noted that in many European countries each MP is elected by 30 to50 thousand voters while, in Georgia, the number of citizens electing one MP is extremely small (10 to11 thousand). “Increasing the number of voters electing each MP will increase the level of democracy in the country,” noted Kakabadze.
In April 2003 the CSO coalition appealed to the President of Georgia, asking for the constitutional changes, however, Eduard Shevardnadze neglected their letter. After the CSO coalition collected 218,000 voter signatures the president had to sign a decree for a referendum on reducing the number of MPs.
“Unfortunately the referendum was not scheduled of the president’s own will, but after presenting the signatures for a referendum, the President was simply obliged to hold one,” said Nana Kakabadze.
On September 3, 2003 the president signed the referendum decree. The referendum will be held on the day of the Parliamentary elections, November 2, 2003.
“I think this is a very good idea to hold the referendum on November 2, because we will save additional funds,” Nana Devdariani, head of Central Election Commission, told Advocacy.Ge. She also noted that on its first working day, the CEC started preparations for the referendum.
Based on the results of the referendum, the newly elected parliament will make all necessary changes to the Constitution of Georgia.
Advocacy.Ge will keep you updated about the developments of this event.