Saakashvili Backs the New Rule for Electing City Council, Mayor

President Mikheil Saakashvili endorsed the new draft law which changes the rules for electing the Tbilisi Mayor and the City Council. The draft was introduced by by Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Mikheil Machavariani.

?I like [MP Mikheil] Machavariani?s proposal very much,? President Saakashvili said at a news conference on June 22.

The new draft foresees a changing of the current, essentially proportional, system of elections into a first-past-the-post, “winner takes all” procedure.

Each of the political parties can nominate two or three candidates for City Council membership in each of the ten individual constituencies. The party which garners the most votes in each constituency will gain a seat in the City Council. The Mayor would then be elected by the Council. Currently, the Mayor of Tbilisi is appointed by the President.

The opposition objects to the proposal, specifically its “winner takes all” system, saying it would lead to a ?one-party dictatorship? by the ruling National Movement. The opposition also opts for direct elections of the Mayor. 

The ruling party says new rules would allow for consolidation of the political parties, as small parties would have to band together to gain influence in the Council. Mikheil Saakashvili was elected City Council Chairmen by a coalition of minority parties in the past.

President Saakashvili said on June 22 that it will be more efficient if the City Council and Mayor will be representing one political force in order to avoid political tensions within the Municipality and continue reforms in the city.

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