Parliament Consults on Election Code

The Parliamentary factions started today to discuss amendments to the election code to prepare for the parliamentary and presidential elections, scheduled for January.

The interim leadership, which led the street protest, that forced Shevardnadze to step down, seeks for the new election code in order to reshuffle the current Central Election Commission (CEC), which was composed mainly by Shevardnadze’s government supporters.

According to the unofficial reports, the MPs supporting the new leadership try to introduce amendment, which would enable parties and president to withdraw thier representative from the CEC.

Thus interim President Nino Burjanadze wants to withdraw members of the CEC, who where appointed by Eduard Shevardnadze on the eve of the November 2 parliamentary elections. The court cancelled the election results because of the election manipulations.

In case this amendment is endorsed by the lawmakers, the current leadership will gain absolute majority in the new Central Election Commission.