The ruling National Movement party is considering to propose a ?differentiated election threshold system? for parliamentiary elections, the Georgian daily Rezonansi (Resonance) reported on January 25.
The initiative, which is expected to be presented in February, involves a proposal to introduce a 5% or 6% threshold for a party running in the elections independently without teaming up with other forces; an 8% threshold for an election bloc which unites two parties; and a 10% threshold for an election bloc in which more than two parties are teamed up, according to Rezonansi.
Currently a party or an elections bloc running in the parliamentary elections must garner at least 7% of votes in order to gain a seat in the country?s legislative body. The Council of Europe has been calling on the Georgian authorities for a long time already to reduce the current threshold to at least 5%.
?I support maintenance of 7% threshold? As far as a differentiated system is concerned, it is the idea of MP Giga Bokeria,? Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Mikheil Machavariani of the ruling party told Rezonansi.
But some opposition lawmakers have already dismissed the proposal as ?dangerous,? saying that it may hinder potential teaming up between opposition parties ahead of polls.
?As far as I know, the ruling majority is really considering this proposal… I am sure that this idea aims to fragment the opposition,? Gia Tsagareishvili of the opposition Industrialists party told Rezonansi.
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