Home > 1. The principles of Europe's electoral heritage > GEORGIA - Joint Opinion on the Election Code
 
 
 
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Paragraph 22
 

The Georgian Constitution (Article 50) and the Election Code (Article 93) do not provide a possibility for independent candidates to run in parliamentary elections; only political parties and electoral blocs may nominate candidates. In contrast, an initiative group of at least 5 voters are permitted to nominate independent candidates to run in the Presidential and local elections (Articles 81 and 119 respectively.) Prohibiting independent candidates challenges the principle that countries must respect the right of citizens to seek political or public office, individually or as representatives of political parties or organisations, without discrimination.[10] It is thus recommended that the provisions on candidacy for Parliament, both in the Constitution and in the Election Code, be amended to allow for individual candidates to participate in Parliamentary elections.