Parliament endorsed with its second hearing on March 11 a constitutional amendment envisaging electing one majoritarian lawmaker in each of the 75 single-mandate constituencies.

The constitutional package, which was endorsed by 162 votes, also envisages decreasing the election threshold from the current 7% to 5%.

The proposed rule on electing majoritarian lawmakers is currently a major source of political contention with the opposition strongly opposed to its introduction. The opposition sees the proposal as damaging to its prospects in the forthcoming elections and instead wants so-called ‘regional proportional lists’ for electing 50 majoritarian MPs.

If approved on the third and final hearing, the number of majoritarian MPs in the new parliament will increase from 50 – as currently mandated in the constitution – to 75 and those elected through the proportional party-list system will go from 100 to 75.

Opposition lawmakers have claimed that the proposal was endorsed in violation of the constitution, as there had been no discussion of the proposed amendments prior to the vote during its first hearing on March 4.

Meanwhile, dozens of opposition activists, including 10 lawmakers (six from the New Rights Party and four from the eight-party coalition) are continuing a hunger strike.

Several hundred protesters demonstrated outside Parliament, as lawmakers debated the proposal. Opposition activists formed a picket at the entrance to the building, forming what they called “a corridor of shame” for lawmakers in favor of the controversial proposal. Some ruling party lawmakers complained of being prevented from entering Parliament and being verbally insulted by the protesters. Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani, however, told the complaining lawmakers to ignore the protesters and not to yield to provocation.

Parliamentary Chairperson, Nino Burjanadze, said on March 11 that the opposition’s hunger strike was “senseless.” She also said on March 11 that the opposition’s goal was to exacerbate situation rather than to engage in a constructive dialogue with the authorities.

In a separate constitutional amendment, the Parliament passed with its third and final reading a proposal to hold parliamentary elections this May. It is up to the president to set an exact date.