Opposition demands restoration of party lists to fill seats in parliament

The opposition United National Movement has demanded the restoration of party lists which were abolished following the 2020 parliamentary elections, per the request of the opposition. 

 

The opposition applied for the abolishment of the lists after the parliamentary race in protest, as the majority of opposition MPs boycotted the parliamentary life and had plans not to take up their mandates. 

 

The abolishment of the lists meant that no one would be able to replace them in the state legislature. 

 

However, later opposition MPs decided to enter the parliament and the state legislature suspended the status of several MPs due to several reasons. 

 

Now the parliament is discussing the suspension of MP status for the Lelo party leader Badri Japaridze who has been recently found guilty of fraud. 

 

The UNM says that the restoration of the lists is necessary for the vacant opposition seats to be re-occupied. 

 

The party member Khatia Dekanoidze says that if the lists are not restored, it would mean that the ruling party is stealing the people’s votes. 

 

The ruling party MPs, however, say that the restoration of the lists is legally impossible and the opposition knew about it when they requested the move after the 2020 elections.