Georgian parliamentary election, 2012
Encyclopedia
The Georgian parliamentary election, 2012 is scheduled for October 2012. It is the 7th legislative election
to be held in Georgia
after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union
in 1991. The last one
was held on May 21, 2008, and the ruling United National Movement, chaired by the President of Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili
, won the majority of seats.
The 2012 election will be held according to a reformed electoral system agreed upon by the authorities and several opposition parties in 2011. The new parliament will be relocated from Georgia's capital of Tbilisi
to the country's second largest city of Kutaisi
later in 2012. It will also form a new government following the scheduled 2013 presidential elections as envisaged by the 2010 constitutional amendments.
. The ruling United National Movement (UNM) managed to secure 119 of 150 seats. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
observers stated that the poll was an improvement from the presidential election
held earlier that year, but that it was still marred by a number of imperfections.
passed on October 15, 2010, the Parliament elected in 2012 will have to form the new government after new constitution enters into force upon the inauguration of the next president, who is scheduled to be elected
in October 2013. The amendments envisage significant reduction of the powers of President in favor of Prime Minister of Georgia
and the government. According to another amendment, passed on July 1, 2011, the parliament electd in 2012 will be permanenly relocated from Tbilisi to the country's second largest city of Kutaisi.
(CDM), and the New Rights, as well as two other opposition parties – the National-Democratic Party
, and On Our Own – signed a deal with the UNM over the reformed electoral system, envisaging, among other provisions, increase in the number of parliamentary seats up to 190 (83 majoritarian
and 107 proportional
seats). Six of the former coalition members – National Forum
, Our Georgia – Free Democrats
(OGFD), Conservative Party
, Republican Party
, Georgia's Way
, and the People's Party – refused to join the deal and unveiled, on July 8, a new alliance, which collapsed on October 6, 2011.
The radical opposition party, Democratic Movement – United Georgia
, led by Nino Burjanadze
, which had refused to join the talks, was behind the May 21–26, 2011 rally
, which ended up with the clash with police, leaving four dead.
On October 7, 2011, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the reclusive multi-billionaire businessman and philanthropist, who had formerly been on good terms with the authorities, stirred up the political scene of Georgia, unleashing criticism of the Saakashvili government and announcing his intention to establish a political party and to run in the 2012 parliamentary elections. He named the Republican Party, led by Davit Usupashvili, and Our Georgia – Free Democrats, led by Irakli Alasania
, among his future partners. In his lengthy written statement, Ivanishvili revealed that, beyond dual Georgian and Russian citizenship, he also had a French passport. As a result, the Georgian civil registry agency ruled his Georgian citizenship had become invalid. According to the law, only Georgian citizens can set up or fund a political party.
Elections in Georgia (country)
Elections in Georgia gives information on elections and election results in Georgia. An election is a process in which a vote is held to elect candidates to an office...
to be held in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1991. The last one
Georgian legislative election, 2008
Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on May 21, 2008. President Mikheil Saakashvili proposed a referendum on bringing them forward from October to April after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations...
was held on May 21, 2008, and the ruling United National Movement, chaired by the President of Georgia
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
, won the majority of seats.
The 2012 election will be held according to a reformed electoral system agreed upon by the authorities and several opposition parties in 2011. The new parliament will be relocated from Georgia's capital of Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
to the country's second largest city of Kutaisi
Kutaisi
Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of Tbilisi.-Geography:...
later in 2012. It will also form a new government following the scheduled 2013 presidential elections as envisaged by the 2010 constitutional amendments.
Last elections
The last parliamentary election in Georgia was held on May 21, 2008, in a highly polarized political environment following the November 2007 crisis2007 Georgian demonstrations
The 2007 Georgian demonstrations were a series of anti-government protests in Georgia. The demonstrations peaked on November 2, 2007, when 50,000-100,000 rallied in downtown Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. People protested against the allegedly corrupt government of president Mikheil Saakashvili...
. The ruling United National Movement (UNM) managed to secure 119 of 150 seats. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
observers stated that the poll was an improvement from the presidential election
Georgian presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Georgia on January 5, 2008, having been brought forward by President Mikheil Saakashvili after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations from the original date in autumn 2008....
held earlier that year, but that it was still marred by a number of imperfections.
2010 constitutional amendments
According to the amendments to the Constitution of GeorgiaConstitution of Georgia (country)
The Constitution of Georgia is the supreme law of Georgia. It was approved by the Parliament of Georgia on August 24 1995. It entered into force on October 17...
passed on October 15, 2010, the Parliament elected in 2012 will have to form the new government after new constitution enters into force upon the inauguration of the next president, who is scheduled to be elected
Georgian presidential election, 2013
The Georgian presidential election, 2013 is scheduled for October 2013. This will be the 6th presidential election in Georgia after the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991...
in October 2013. The amendments envisage significant reduction of the powers of President in favor of Prime Minister of Georgia
Prime Minister of Georgia
The Prime Minister of Georgia is the most senior minister within the Cabinet of Georgia, appointed by the President of Georgia. The official title of the Head of the Government of Georgia has varied throughout history, however, the duties and functions of the leader have changed only marginally....
and the government. According to another amendment, passed on July 1, 2011, the parliament electd in 2012 will be permanenly relocated from Tbilisi to the country's second largest city of Kutaisi.
2010-2011 electoral reform talks and political parties
In November 2010, the UNM and several opposition parties launched talks in order to develop a new, improved electoral system. On June 27, 2011, the UNM succeeded in gaining majority consensus for its proposed electoral system reform, effectively splintering the Group of Eight opposition coalition. Two members of the coalition – the Christian-Democratic MovementChristian-Democratic Movement (Georgia)
The Christian-Democratic Movement is a political party in Georgia, founded in February 2008 and led by Giorgi Targamadze, formerly a Imedi TV anchor who had once been a Member of the Parliament of Georgia and a close ally of Aslan Abashidze, then a regional leader of Adjara...
(CDM), and the New Rights, as well as two other opposition parties – the National-Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Georgia)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in Georgia.At the last legislative elections, 28 March 2004, the party was part of the National Democratic Alliance....
, and On Our Own – signed a deal with the UNM over the reformed electoral system, envisaging, among other provisions, increase in the number of parliamentary seats up to 190 (83 majoritarian
Majoritarian representation
A majoritarian voting system is an electoral method which gives the right to appoint all the representatives to the majority of the electors, denying representation to all minorities...
and 107 proportional
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
seats). Six of the former coalition members – National Forum
National Forum (Georgia)
The National Forum is an opposition political party in Georgia established on December 15, 2006 by the former diplomat Kakha Shartava. He is the son of Zhiuli Shartava, a Georgian politician in Abkhazia, killed by the Abkhaz militias during the secessionist war in the region in 1993...
, Our Georgia – Free Democrats
Our Georgia – Free Democrats
Our Georgia – Free Democrats is a political party in Georgia chaired by Irakli Alasania; it was founded on 16 July 2009. The party is currently in opposition to the government led by Mikheil Saakashvili and his United National Movement....
(OGFD), Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Georgia
The Conservatives Party of Georgia is a centre-right and nationalist political party, active in Georgia since 2001.Currently led by its acting chairman Zviad Dzidziguri, the party had been allied with Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement until May 2004 when it switched into opposition...
, Republican Party
Republican Party of Georgia
The Republican Party of Georgia , commonly known as the Republicans , is a political party in Georgia active since 1978. It is currently in opposition to Mikheil Saakashvili’s government...
, Georgia's Way
Georgia's Way
Georgia's Way is a political party in Georgia. It was registered on March 11, 2006. The chairman of the party was former Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili, who was sacked by Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli in October 2005. On November 12, 2010 Zourabichvili announced her resignation...
, and the People's Party – refused to join the deal and unveiled, on July 8, a new alliance, which collapsed on October 6, 2011.
The radical opposition party, Democratic Movement – United Georgia
Democratic Movement – United Georgia
Democratic Movement – United Georgia is a centre-right political party in Georgia chaired by Nino Burjanadze; it was founded on 24 November 2008.The party is currently in opposition to the government led by Mikheil Saakashvili and his United National Movement...
, led by Nino Burjanadze
Nino Burjanadze
Nino Burjanadze is a Georgian politician and lawyer who served as Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia from November 2001 to June 2008...
, which had refused to join the talks, was behind the May 21–26, 2011 rally
2011 Georgian protests
The 2011 Georgian protests were a series of anti-government protests in Georgia against President Mikheil Saakashvili.-Events:The protests began on 21 May 2011 when over 10,000 Georgians attended a demonstration in Tbilisi demanding Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's resignation...
, which ended up with the clash with police, leaving four dead.
On October 7, 2011, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the reclusive multi-billionaire businessman and philanthropist, who had formerly been on good terms with the authorities, stirred up the political scene of Georgia, unleashing criticism of the Saakashvili government and announcing his intention to establish a political party and to run in the 2012 parliamentary elections. He named the Republican Party, led by Davit Usupashvili, and Our Georgia – Free Democrats, led by Irakli Alasania
Irakli Alasania
Irakli Alasania is a Georgian politician and former diplomat. He was Georgia’s Ambassador to the United Nations from September 11, 2006, until December 4, 2008. His previous assignments include Chairman of the Government of Abkhazia and the President of Georgia’s aide in the Georgian-Abkhaz talks...
, among his future partners. In his lengthy written statement, Ivanishvili revealed that, beyond dual Georgian and Russian citizenship, he also had a French passport. As a result, the Georgian civil registry agency ruled his Georgian citizenship had become invalid. According to the law, only Georgian citizens can set up or fund a political party.