Georgian Parliament adopts amendments allowing Bidzina Ivanishvili to participate in elections

At the plenary session, 111 MPs voted unanimously for the amendments to the Constitution of Georgia, which allow Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the opposition coalition "Georgian Dream", running for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

On May 8, the Georgian Parliament in the first reading voted for the amendments to the Constitution, involving the provision to EU citizens, living in Georgia during last 10 years, the right to vote. On April 4, the Christian Democratic Party proposed to change the Constitution to allow Bidzina Ivanishvili, the politician and the businessman, participating in the elections.

"Prior to January 1, 2014, persons of eligible age, who were born and for the last five years live in Georgia and at the time of publication of the law are citizens of the EU countries, have the right to participate and vote at the parliamentary and presidential elections on a par with citizens of Georgia," states the amendment to the Constitution.

Furthermore, the highest legislative body of Georgia has adopted the amendment, reducing the age limit for MPs from 25 to 21 years.

It should be noted that the amendments to the Constitution were made after the Bidzina Ivanishvili's  statement that he had been living in Georgia since 2004, and he had been paying taxes since 2005.