Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 21 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
The Georgian Parliament approved constitutional amendments in the first reading late Tuesday. 114 MPs voted for and only one voted against.
It is remarkable that faction "Unity for Justice" was against the amendments but during the voting its MPs were not present and it is unclear which MP voted against.
According to the constitutional amendments, petty offenders will get a right to vote. Apart from this, 77 MPs in the next parliament will be elected according to a system of proportional representation and 73 MPs, according to first-past-the-post voting. Elected MPs that will get less seats than needed to establish a parliamentary faction, will be nevertheless entitled to establish their faction.
Draft law on Constitution revision will pass provided it is supported by the three-fourths of all MPs during the two consecutive sessions with at least 3 months' interval between them.
The amendments concerning quorum will come into force in October, 2013 after the elected president's swearing in ceremony.