Experts Say Referendum over Reduction of Number of MPs will Lead to Crisis
(Tbilisi, September 10, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Legal expert Davit Usupashvili, who was one of the candidates for the Central Election Commission Chairmanship post, proposed by the OSCE, claims holding a referendum over reducing the number of MPs from 235 to 150 will lead the country to parliamentary and constitutional crisis.
President Shevardnadze signed on September 3 a decree declaring that a referendum will be held. The referendum will be held ! simultaneously with the parliamentary elections on November 2. If approved, the new Parliament will consider the relevant amendments to be added to the Constitution of Georgia and 150 MPs will be elected in the 2007 parliamentary elections.
However, Usupashvili claims that under Article 28 of the Georgian Organic Law on Referendum, a decision made as a result of a referendum comes into force on the day of its publication, it is binding, and its change or abolition is admissible only by holding another referendum.
As a result of the November 2 elections, the newly-elected parliament will consist of 235 MPs. However, if the referendum passes (it will be issued on November 7), a Parliament consisting of only 150 MPs will be legal.
“So, we would have an extra 85 MPs in the legislative body, which would make the entire Parliament illegal,” Davit Usupashvili told Civil Georgia.
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