Court Orders CEC to Reconsider Opposition’s Referendum Bid

A court in Tbilisi ordered the Central Election Commission (CEC) on October 17 to reconsider a request by the opposition Republican Party and public movement “Forum for Welfare and Democracy” over the appointment of a referendum on whether city mayors and regional governors should be elected through direct elections.

The CEC rejected the appeal on October 7 for the second time, citing that the request was not properly formulated.

“The court has partially upheld our appeal and found the CEC’s rejection not well-founded. But we were requesting the court to directly rule in favor of the referendum. Although the court has instructed the CEC to reconsider our bid, which we find very positive, the process will now drag-on,” Irakli Melashvili of the Forum for Welfare and Democracy told Civil Georgia on October 17.
 
According to the law capital city Tbilisi Mayor will be elected by the elected City Council – Sakrebulo; while the regional Governors are appointed by the President. The opposition wants both Mayors and Governors to be elected through direct elections.

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