Public Opinion Is Ignored - Number of MPs Will Increase up to 190

Aleksi Bezhanishvili

In accordance to the election agreement signed between the National Movement and several opposition parties, the number of MPs will increase up to 190 from current 150.

The number of MPs was reduced from 235 to 150 as a result of the referendum held on November 2, 2003. The Law about Referendum clarifies that the referendum results can be amended with new referendum only.

“The ruling party cannot promise any political party to increase the number of MPs. People shall decide it as a result of referendum. So, it is strange why they make promises which they cannot realize in fact,” Tamar Chugoshvili, head of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, told the Interpresnews.

She added that the only way to increase number of MPs is referendum. “Georgian parliament cannot change the regulation adopted by the referendum. I think it is not correct when similar paragraph was put in the agreement because it can be decided only by referendum. Georgian parliament does not have mandate to make similar promises.”

Chugoshvili said neither Constitutional Court can abolish the referendum results.

In accordance to the Law on Referendum, “Decision made as a result of the referendum can be changed or canceled only through a referendum; Constitutional Court of Georgia is authorized to invalidate the referendum results with the rule set by the law”

Parliamentary majority “promised” to increase the number of MPs in full compliance with the law.

Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Mikheil Machavariani reported to the journalists that the parliament is discussing the issue of changing the referendum results and everything will be done in compliance with the law.

“No decisions will be made illegally. We will make the decision together with lawyers, and it will be in the framework of the law and constitution,” said Machavariani and added that in 2003 there was plebiscite because in accordance to the law, Referendum is conducted on the whole territory of Georgia, but part of Georgian territory is occupied.

The New Rights is one of those several opposition political parties who signed memorandum with the National Movement. Mamuka Katsitadze from the New Rights believes the possible increase of MP number does not contradict the Constitution of Georgia and Georgian Legislation.

He said any political decision shall be made within the Constitution and the national legislation. The referendum on the increase of MP number shall be decided in the parliament again.

Katsitadze added that if there is argument on the issue, the Constitutional Court shall start its discussion.

According to Katsitadze, although referendum on the reduction of the MP number was really held in Georgia, several circumstances are important in it. “We should remember the time and situation when the referendum was held. On November 2, 2003 two more elections were held together with the referendum; results of one of those elections were cancelled. In fact, when one ballot paper is not valid in the ballot box, it causes some doubts. In addition, when I was an MP and when the parliament reduced the number of its members, the decision was not made based on the referendum; it was pure constitutional amendment.

He added that any political decision shall be made in the framework of the law and corresponding institutions shall work on it.