The Procedural Issues and Rules Committee discussed the Draft Rules of Procedure and the companion Bills for the II reading.

According to the Chair of the Committee, David Matikashvili, the Draft envisages that NGOs shall no longer mandatorily participate in public decision-making.

The current edition of the Rules of Procedure envisages the mandatory participation of NGOs. As noted at the sitting, the reality revealed that the mandatory participation of NGOs fails to reach the outlined goal, however, the Law allows NGOs to, at their discretion, participate in the consideration of issues of their interest.

The Draft re-formulates the election procedures of the CEC members, enhancing the practical application. According to this revised procedure, the CEC membership candidate will be elected by three-fifths of the full Parliament.

This principle is rooted in the Constitution, granting the Parliament, with a full majority, the authority to make decisions on matters such as the amendment of the Rules of Procedure and the election of the Speaker etc.

Furthermore, the Parliament, with a full majority, undertakes the ratification, denouncement and annulment of international agreements, and correspondingly, the hereof Constitutional principle applies to the election of the CEC members.

The Committee endorsed the legal package.