Repeat Parliamentary Polls Scheduled for March 28

Interim President Nino Burjanadze announced today that the repeat Parliamentary elections will be held on March 28, 2004.

“Decision has been made after the consultations with the representatives of the parliamentary factions,” Nino Burjanadze said at a news briefing on January 9.

At the consultation late on January 10, the New Rights party demanded holding of the elections in June. The Socialists and the Industrialists parties did not participate in the consultations. Unexpectedly, the Revival Union, led by Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze, also agreed to hold polls for March. Earlier, Revival demanded to conduct elections in June.

“We could not take into consideration proposal of several political parties regarding holding of polls for June, as the country needs a new legislative body. Further delay of elections would hinder normal political life in the country,” Nino Burjanadze said.

She expressed hope that the repeat parliamentary elections will be as free and fair as the January 4 snap presidential elections. “I hope the comparative conditions for all the political parties will be created by the parliamentary elections,” she added.

The Supreme Court of Georgia annulled results of the proportional component of the fraudulent November 2 parliamentary elections. However, MPs elected in the 75 single-mandate constituencies were permitted to stand.

Thus, the March 28 repeat parliamentary elections will be held only under the party-list system to compose remaining 150 seats in the new Parliament.