Parliament passed amendments to the election code on December 28 with its third and final reading, setting key rules for the local elections, scheduled for May, 2010.

The amendments were expected to be approved on December 25, but it was postponed citing the need to create legal tools for allaying concerns over the voters list in Tbilisi.

The Georgian press has been reporting recently that the ruling party launched registering its activists from the provincial regions in the capital city and by doing so increasing number of its supporters in Tbilisi, which is largely regarded an opposition’s powerbase.

MP Pavle Kublashvili of the ruling National Movement party, who chairs the parliamentary committee for legal issues, said at the parliamentary session on December 28, that the allegation was totally groundless and suggested that it was part of the opposition parties’ tactic of “finding an excuse in advance” for the defeat they would suffer in the upcoming elections.

After consultations between the political parties held on December 25 and on December 28 (in the recent one a representative from the Alliance for Georgia was also taking part), a provision was included in the amendments, which bans those voters from casting ballot in Tbilisi, who will register in the capital city from January 15 to June 1.

Those willing to be registered in Tbilisi in this period would be given “a temporary registration cards”; these voters although won’t be able to vote in Tbilisi, but will still be able to cast the ballot in their previous place of residence.

Also in respect of voters list, according to the amendments, those parties, which are eligible for the state funding, will receive additional finances for carrying out activities related with re-checking the voters list.

According to the amendments, only political parties will be eligible to nominate candidates for the local councils (Sakrebulos), excluding independent candidates from running in the elections.