The Georgian Parliament plans to launch discussions over amendments to the election code, on November 11, which envisage banning political party activists from composing the Central Election Commission (CEC).
According to the amendments, the Central Election Commission (CEC) will be composed of seven members who are certified as election administration officials, while the district election commission will be composed of five members and the precincts nine members.
The CEC Chairman will be appointed by the President, according to the draft law; while the other six members of the CEC will be selected on a competitive basis from a list of 18 nominees. The President will submit a shortlist of 12 of the 18 nominees to the Parliament. Afterwards, the Parliament will endorse six members of the commission.
The Central Election Commission will appoint the chairmen of the district commissions, while the district commissions will appoint the chairmen of the precincts.
The principle of mixed composition will apply at the precinct level only, as political parties will also have the right to appoint their members.
Opposition MPs demanded the postponment of the discussions of the draft law, citing the necessity for public discussions first.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to endorse a rule which envisages the appointment of the entire election administration by the authorities,” said Davit Berdzenishvili from the opposition Republican Party.
The Rightist Opposition, who has its own alternative version, also demands the postponment of the discussion over the amendments. “Otherwise, we will receive single-party administrations, which will make further participation in elections senseless,” Mamuka Katsitadze of the Rightist Opposition said.