The representative of the ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze held a briefing at the central office of the Georgian Dream on the OSCE/ODIHR Opinion on draft amendments to the election code of Georgia.

According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the opposition has received a response from ODIHR about the so-called German model that determination of the constitutionality of the bill is not their prerogative.

Furthermore, Kobakhidze explains that two additional messages are emerging from the ODIHR conclusion.

In particular, according to him, the ODIHR report notes that the choice of the electoral system is the sovereign right of the state. At the same time, according to Kobakhidze, the ODIHR report clearly states that both a proportional and a full majoritarian, as well as a mixed electoral system, are fair.

As Kobakhidze explains the document notes that the electoral system should not be changed during the election year.

In this context, Kobakhidze says that both the proposed 100/50 system, as well as the current mixed system, are equally legitimate.

ODIHR opinion on draft amendments to the election code of Georgia has been published today. According to the same document, the choice of the electoral system is a sovereign decision of the state, so long as the chosen electoral system is consistent with the state’s obligations under international law. In addition, ODIHR  notes that the international good practice recommends that key aspects of electoral legislation not be open to amendment less than one year before an election.