Parliament passed with its first reading on May 14 a bill revoking a controversial legislative clause envisaging blanket suspension of all public servants employed in the local self-governance bodies across the country immediately after the June 15 local elections.

Parliament added the GD-proposed controversial clause to the law on public service in early February, when it passed local self-governance reform bill. According to this clause, slammed by civil society organizations, all public servants of the local authorities should be suspended after the local elections; they will continue to serve ad interim pending filling of vacant posts through competitions.

The clause was challenged to the Constitutional Court by Public Defender’s office, as well as by a local watchdog group and employees of the Tbilisi city municipality. The Constitutional Court has yet to deliver its verdict, but lawsuit will apparently be dropped as the Parliament is revoking the disputed clause.