The competition commission set up by President Zourabichvili shortlisted two candidates for the vacant Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairperson’s job and five applicants for two CEC member posts.

Two shortlisted CEC Chairperson job claimers are current CEC employees, Giorgi Kalandarishvili and Giorgi Santuriani. Gia Tsatsashvili, Ana Mikeladze, Lela Taliuri, Maia Zaridze and Tamara Sartania were shortlisted for CEC member vacancies.

The competition commission completed interviewing the candidates running for vacant posts of CEC Chairperson and members late on July 8. The 11-member Competition Commission interviewed twenty-two applicants. Seven candidates ran for the post of CEC Chairperson, while 15 people for two vacant positions of a CEC member. If President Salome Zourabichvili approves the commission’s shortlist, the process will then continue in the parliament.

Based on the amended Election Code, two-thirds of the parliament will elect CEC Chairperson for a 5-year term. The parliamentary majority will need the opposition’s votes as well. If no consensus is reached between the ruling party and the opposition following the ballot twice, the parliament will approve the CEC Chairperson with 76 votes but for a 6-month term only.