Government, Opposition at Odds over Election Commissions

President Saakashvili expressed readiness to give up the government’s two seats in the lower level election commissions in favor of the opposition parties.

However, the authorities refuse to change the composition of the 15-member Central Election Commission (CEC), where most of the seats – eight – are under the government’s control.

The opposition parties agree to receive two more seats in the lower level commissions, but demands to introduce relevant amendments to the election code. However, the President said that the amendments would not be possible to introduce amendments before March 28.
 
The conclusion of the international observation mission, which monitored elections in Georgia, suggested “the political imbalance in the composition of the election administration at all levels caused serious concern.”