The Venice Commission publishes its opinion on the amendments made to the Organic Law of Georgia, the "Election Code of Georgia," regarding local self-government elections.

The opinion of the Venice Commission was requested by the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools.

The Commission states that the amendments to the "Election Code of Georgia" were introduced through an accelerated procedural process. It emphasizes that any successful changes to electoral legislation should be implemented through broad consensus, following public consultations with all interested parties.

Furthermore, the Commission’s opinion notes that adopting changes one year before the local self-government elections scheduled for October 2025 contradicts the principle of electoral law stability.

The Venice Commission highlights that the proposed amendments strengthen the majoritarian component of local electoral legislation, which could further consolidate the ruling party's position.

"While specific European standards do not prescribe a particular electoral system for local council elections, these amendments, when considered in a broader context, do not contribute to the development of political pluralism. Moreover, they may undermine the principle of equality in electoral rights, particularly regarding the fair distribution of voting power and ensuring equal opportunities in the electoral process," the opinion states.

The Venice Commission issues the following recommendations:

Repeal the amendments adopted in December 2024.

Establish strict regulations for the delimitation of electoral districts at the level of the Election Code, defining clear and objective criteria for this process.

After the upcoming local elections, the delimitation of electoral boundaries should be entrusted to an impartial body.

Any future changes to the Election Code should be carried out within a thorough and comprehensive review of the electoral system to ensure a holistic reform rather than frequent and fragmented amendments, while also maintaining the principle of electoral law stability.

Such a comprehensive review of the Election Code should be based on clear and inclusive legislation that meets international commitments and standards, considers previous recommendations, and is achieved through broad public consultations with all interested parties to reach a wide consensus.

It should also include political commitments to fully and in good faith implement such legislation, with adequate procedural and judicial safeguards to assess any form of non-compliance in a timely manner.