MP Downsize Approved

With a 203-1 vote, the Georgian Parliament endorsed a constitutional amendment that envisages a reduction in the number of MPs, from the current 235 to 150.
 
According to this amendment 100 MPs will be elected through a proportional, party-list system, while 50 MPs will be elected in single-mandate constituencies. The amendment will apply to the next Parliament, which will be convened in 2008.
 
However, this constitutional amendment will be enforced along with relevant changes to the election code. Particularly, there are currently 75 single-mandate constituencies. This number should be reduced to 50 according to the constitutional amendment approved on February 17.

Parliamentarians say that the amendment should trigger more active discussions over reformations of the country?s territorial-administrative arrangement, which, in turn, will be followed by the creation of a two-chamber Parliament.