Will oppositional parties boycott Constitutional Commission?

Next week will decide whether other qualified parliamentary and non-parliamentary oppositional parties join National Movement in boycotting State Constitutional Commission. The commission will present the final version of changes to be made into Constitution of Georgia during the parliament sitting on April 18. 

Free Democrats may leave Constitutional Commission in the near future. According to Leader of Free Democrats Shalva Shavgulidze, the party members cannot see any sense in reaming in Constitutional Commission. Shavgulidze said that Georgian Dream firmly adheres to the position that shows signs of more concentration of power and undemocratic development. “This concerns the proposed election system, which is not fair, as well as election rule of president,” Shavgulidze said. 

Opponents voice their conditions to the ruling Georgian Dream Party. They protest against the rule for President’s election and new model for holding parliamentary polls. The opposition considers the principle of distribution of MP mandates and unchanged election threshold as unacceptable. 

Oppositional politicians are interested in when the rule of indirect rule of President’s election will be activated. Opponents also remind the ruling team that one of their main demands – abolishment of Majoritarian (single mandate) system - is unsatisfied.   

Non-governmental organizations also have remarks to the work of Constitutional Commission. Human Rights Center demanded that social guarantees of citizens were assured by Constitution based on the initiated project. However, representatives of Georgian Dream claim that determination of social obligations by Constitution is impossible due to economic situation in the country. 

The Constitutional Commission has already been left by State for People and National Movement Party. The majority members termed the decision as “earning political points.”