The government-initiated draft of the Local Self-Governance Code was a compromise version negotiated by the leading political coalition. We believe that the proposed model does not fully reflect election promises made by Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream Coalition, as well as principles declared in the government’s March 1, 2013 local self-governance reform strategy. However, we, as representatives of civil society, have supported it none the less, because we believe that it will be the first important and irreversible step on the path to establishing genuine local self-governance in the country.
Unfortunately, groundless concerns raised by opposition interests outside of the Parliament before the bill was submitted led to the removal of key innovations from the draft. As a result of this “consensus”:
- The number of cities to become self-governed has been reduced;
- The question of the direct election of heads of municipalities (Gamgebeli) and mayors is not clear;
- The population of Tbilisi will not be able to handle community issues at their discretion; and
- Self-governing bodies will not be able to control governors.
The most regrettable circumstance is that:
- No public councils – which serve as tools for civil involvement and control in cities and rural areas – will be set up.
We believe this “consensus” will further enforce the already existing centralized system instead of contributing to the development of local democracy. Moreover, the current model of the code runs counter to the promises made during the election campaign and rejects the reform strategy that had been declared. Such activities of Parliament trigger suspicions that there are some forces within the central government itself who are not willing to carry out a sweeping reform and want to maintain tight control on the local level.
We are sorry that the new ruling political force has failed to learn the lessons from the previous government. The current situation is reminiscient of the developments in 2005, when the government failed to take advantage of the opportunity to carry out sweeping reforms and as a result lost public support and, ultimately, power.
We still hope that Georgian MPs will acknowledge their responsibility towards the population of Georgia, their constituents, and will not miss this chance to develop democracy on the local level.
1. International Center for Civil Culture (ICCC)
2. Association Civitas Georgica
3. Civic Integration Foundation
4. Civil Society Research and Development Center
5. Local Democracy Development Network
6. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
7. Gori Information Center
8. Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC)
9. Liberal Academy Tbilisi Foundation
10. The Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
11. The Centre for Cultural Relations – Caucasian House
12. Green Caucasus
13. Civil Society Institute (CSI)
14. Centre of Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG)
15. Green Alternative
16. School-Family-Society
17. Independent Journalists’ House
18. Public Movement Multinational Georgia
19. Union of Democrat Meskhs
20. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)
21. Human Rights Priority
22. Freedom and Democracy Development Institute
23. NGO SIDA
24. Economic Policy Experts Center
25. IDP Women Association Tankhmoba
26. Association Gori Disability Club
27. Caucasian Institute of Economic and Social Research
28. UN Association of Georgia
29. TASO Foundation
30. Centre of Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG)
31. Tkibuli District Development Fund
32. Public Defender
33. Multinational Georgia
34. The Greens Movement of Georgia Friends of the Earth
35. Public Monitoring and Research Center
36. Safe Environment
37. NGO Borjgali
38. Human Rights Center
39. Civil Initiative
40. Nukriani Union
41. The Imereti Scientists’ Union
42. Guria Youth Resource Center
43. Energy Efficiency Center Georgia
44. NGO For Better Future
45. NGO Tolerant