Georgian opposition is ready to recommence negotiations on electoral system

Yesterday, April, 5, oppositional community of Georgia put forward a suggestion to the ruling party to recommence negotiations on electoral system. The statement they issued runs that the opposition is ready to make some concessions but at the same time it is going to start a broad campaign of informing the population on the amendments it offers. 

"We intend to talk directly to the electors as the main beneficiaries for it is them that must gain from the amendments we are offering", Vakhtang Khmaladze, representative of the Republican party, declared. 

At the same time Vakhtang Khmaladze told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that the oppositional octad was ready to sit down at the negotiating table with the Government any moment. 

In its message to the authorities via mass media the opposition suggested to divide the questions put by both parties into two groups. At the first stage the politicians suggest regarding two questions: electoral lists and electoral system. 

The oppositional politicians are viewing one of the questions of the first stage, i.e. electoral lists, in one way only: issuing biometric certificates of identity according to the number of which electoral lists would be formed. 

The "Caucasian Knot" has already reported that the authorities disagreed with this system explaining their position by its high cost and a long period of work it demands. 

As for the second question, electoral system, the oppositionists declare that they confirm their offer of forming the Parliament on the basis of majoritarian and regional principles. 

The threshold of one's registration as candidate currently makes 30% of the electorate. "In case of maintaining the present system 70% of votes are left out of account. If the system we offer today is accepted only 50% will be left without account", Khmaladze said.