The Republican Party has proposed that 75 majoritarian MPs be elected in multi-mandate constituencies, instead of single-mandate constituencies, as a way out of the political impasse surrounding the matter.

A recently passed constitutional amendment outlining that 75 majoritarian MPs be in the new 150-member parliament has been at the centre of recent political controversy. Initially, 50 such MPs had been proposed. Parliament is currently discussing changes to the election code to harmonize it with the recent constitutional amendment.

Davit Usupashvili, the Republican Party leader, said on March 18 that because of a tight timeframe before the elections this May and with no possibility for additional constitutional amendments to restore the 50 majoritarian MP status quo ante, a solution had to be found within the existing constitutional framework.

He said that multi-mandate constituencies, instead of single-mandate ones, provided the solution to the current impasse.

The proposal is similar to the rule of so-called ‘regional proportional lists’ proposed earlier by the opposition. It differs, however, in that voters would vote in multi-mandate constituencies for as many candidates as there are seats in a given constituency. Majoritarian seats would also be allocated to South Ossetian and Abkhaz constituencies.

Usupashvili said that he was ready to meet Nino Burjanadze, the parliamentary chairperson, to discuss his proposal.

He warned, however, that government backing for the proposal would not be enough to finally resolve the current political crisis. The authorities, he said, should also meet other opposition demands related with parity at all levels of election administrations.

The ruling party has yet to comment on the Republican Party proposal.