Independent members of Georgian paliament officially recognized as faction

Six parliamentarians who left the former governing party of President Mikheil Saakashvili have officially been recognized as a faction of independents.

The six MPs have formed a faction called «Non-partisan Independent Majoritarians.» Gogi Liparteliani, MP for the Lentekhi district, Georgia’s mountainous region in the west, will chair the faction. The rest are MPs Goderdzi Bukia, Enzel Makoiani, Kakha Okriashvili, Sergo Khabuliani and Giorgi Gozalishvili.

The latter joined a few days ago, after which the independents reached the threshold of six MPs and were entitled to form their own faction. Parliament’s regulations allow a faction additional time during review of draft laws and during political debates.

There are 150 MPs in the Georgian parliament. 100 MPs are needed for a constitutional majority. The party of President Saakashvili got 65 seats in the election, while Prime Minister Ivanishvili’s coalition got 85. If the new faction supports them, the majority will still need the votes of a few minority MPs to adopt constitutional amendments.

Adapted from vestnikkavkaza.net