Saakashvili Against Reduction Threshold for Admission to Parliament

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he is against the reduction of the 7% threshold necessary to be cleared for securing seats in the Parliament.

Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, who visited Georgia on February 18-20, called on the Georgian authorities to reduce the 7% barrier to avoid one-party system in the new Parliament. He said 4 or 5 % corresponds to the European averages. 

Walter Schwimmer emphasised how important it was for the country to have an opposition “in Parliament and not only in the street.”

In order to avoid problems with clearing the 7% barrier, Saakashvili suggested the opposition parties to unite and create blocs for the March 28 parliamentary elections.

So far only Traditionalists and National-Democratic parties, as well as the New Rights and Industrialists opposition parties formed election blocs.