Memorandum of Civil Agreement

We, the signatories named below, representatives of Georgian society, expert groups, civil sector and political unions agree and declare:

In order to ensure democratic, competitive and equal election environment in Georgia, it is necessary to replace the existing electoral system, which requires an appropriate constitutional and legal changes. 

Local and international society and political parties have criticized the existing electoral system for a long time. It is because it cannot provide proportional reflection of voters’ will in mandates, a number of lost votes are high and one vote principle is not protected. 

In our opinion, the solution for elimination of the above-mentioned problem is to change the existing majoritarian system.  

It is necessary to adopt an electoral system, which will solve the existing problems and better reflect a will of Georgian citizens in elections. 

In order to achieve this goal, the system shall provide:

• Proportional reflection of votes in mandates;

• Equal weight of votes;

• Increased representation of women;

• Unite national and local representation.

In order to ensure timely establishment of all the above-mentioned, we request from the Government, by the end of March 2015, to create multiparty format of negotiation engaging civil society and international organizations, which will change the electoral system based on wide social-political consensus. No later than May 1 of 2015, to establish a package of proposals for legislative changes based on multiparty and open format work. The Parliament of Georgia shall make legislative changes in accordance with the international expert report. 

March 11, 2015

The signatories of the memorandum are: 

• Political Parties/Movements

1.       New Rights                                             

2.       United Democratic Movement

3.       National Democratic Party                   

4.       Freedom                                                         

5.       Leftist Alliance                                                

6.       Civil Alliance for Freedom     

7.       European Democrats of Georgia                                              

8.       Alliance of Patriots of Georgia               

9.   Political Movement of [law enforcement and armed forces] Veterans and Patriots of Georgia

10.   Kartuli Dasi                                                       

11.   Christian Democratic Movement   

12.   Free democrats

13.   UNM

•  NGOs

1.     Human Rights Center                                             

2.     Center for Development and Democracy

3.     Experts’ Club                                                                  

4.     Article 42 of Constitution                                                

5.     Coalition for independent Living              

6.     Transparency International – Georgia

7.     Public Advocacy                                              

8.     SFED

9.     International Center for Civic Culture         

10.   Civil Society and Democracy Development Center                   

11.   Georgian Young Lawyers Association

12.   Georgian Association of Public Broadcasters

13.   Media Monitoring Center

14.   Women’s Political Resource Center

15.   Georgian Institute of European Values

16.   Open Society Georgian Foundation