Irakli Zoidze proposes holding a referendum on transition to proportional electoral system
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, November 25
Akaki Zoidze, Chairperson of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee proposes holding a referendum or plebiscite on the proportional electoral system to the chairperson of the Georgian Dream and political council.
"I have decided to publicly announce and appeal to the Georgian Dream's political council to take action on a referendum or plebiscite as soon as possible on the transition to a proportional electoral system in 2020," said Zoidze.
The decision, he said, would help prevent public confrontation and remove questions about the country's future development.
"We should use the time left before the referendum to work with the community to achieve the results we want," added Zoidze.
According to him, if his political team does not support this decision, he is thinking of leaving the parliament and politics in general.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream Faction, responded to Akaki Zoidze's initiative. As he noted, he can’t say the final answer on this issue but can assure the public that the team will discuss this in the near future.
According to the Constitution of Georgia, the President of Georgia may, at the request of Parliament, the Government, or at least 200,000 voters, designate a referendum on matters stipulated by the Constitution and the law within 30 days after receiving demand on its appointment.
No referendum may be held for the adoption or abolition of the law, on the basis of amnesty or pardon, on the ratification or denunciation of an international treaty, or on any matter involving the restriction of a person's fundamental constitutional right. Issues related to the appointment and holding of the referendum shall be determined by an organic law.
According to the Election Code, a plebiscite is a public poll by ballot to find out the opinion of voters or a part of them on, particularly important state issues. The plebiscite is appointed by the Prime Minister of Georgia. The plebiscite results are of a recommendation nature to the state authorities.
Also, yesterday, the chairman of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, met with the MP’s who did not support the constitutional changes on electoral code. As MP Dimitri Khundadze stated after the meeting, the issue of transition to the majoritarian system by 2020 was discussed.
The leader of the Georgian Dream announced that the country would transition to the new electoral system by 2020. Ivanishvili said this after the rallies of June 20-21, the initiative was not supported by several MPs of the ruling party, as a result of which the bill was not passed.
