GDDG, Conservative Parties in Talks over Possible Electoral Cooperation

Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) ruling party is holding consultations with one of its coalition partners in the Parliament, Conservative Party, on cooperation in the upcoming elections.

“We have yet to decide how we will run in the elections. We are now in consultations with the Georgian Dream-[Democratic Georgia] party and the results will be known in the nearest future,” MP Giga Bukia of the Conservative Party told Civil.ge on Monday without elaborating details.

A senior lawmaker from the GDDG party, Zviad Kvatchantiradze, confirmed holding consultations with the Conservative Party but declined to discuss the details whether the possible cooperation would involve supporting Conservative Party candidates in several single-mandate constituencies or some of its leaders would be put in GDDG’s party list of MP candidates.
 
There have been reports in the Georgian media that GDDG may not field its candidates in couple of single-mandate constituencies and instead support candidates from the Conservative Party in those districts.

In Georgia’s mixed electoral system 73 lawmakers are elected in 73 single-member constituencies, known in the country as “majoritarian” mandates, and the rest 77 seats are allocated proportionally under the party-list contest among political parties, which clear 5% threshold.
 
The Georgian Dream ruling coalition announced on March 31 that its members (GDDG; Republican Party; Conservative Party; Industrialists, and National Forum) were parting ways for the upcoming parliamentary elections, meaning that they would no longer run under the joint ticket.

The Conservative Party appears to be the only one among former coalition partners with whom the GDDG is in talks over possible cooperation in the upcoming elections.

Irakli Kobakhidze, secretary general of GDDG, told reporters on June 27 that the process of selecting its majoritarian MP candidates in single-mandate constituencies is almost over and the list is expected to be presented in early July.