The US Embassy and the EU delegation in Georgia urge the parties to start a dialogue to find a way out of the situation that has developed after the failure of the constitutional reform of the electoral system, News-Georgia reported.

The US and the EU took the initiative to accelerate the transition to fully proportional parliamentary elections in summer as an important step in Georgian democracy, which, moreover, was followed by political consensus and the obligation of all parties to work in this direction.

According to the statement, the unexpected cessation of this process last Thursday increased distrust and tension between the ruling party and other political forces, as well as civil society.

The US Embassy and the EU delegation in Georgia also responded to a large-scale opposition rally, during which it announced the start of a full picket of the parliament.

On November 14, the Georgian parliament failed to vote on constitutional amendments, which involve holding parliamentary elections in 2020 according to a proportional system with zero electoral threshold. A total of 113 out of 150 deputies’ votes needed to continue consideration of the initiative. During the vote, only 101 deputies supported the changes. Three deputies of the ruling Georgian Dream party voted against, 39 abstained.

After the ruling party did not fulfill its promise, a permanent protest rally began in front of the parliament building in central Tbilisi. Following the consultations, the opposition and civic activists made three demands to the authorities: the formation of an interim, technical government; calling early parliamentary elections on a proportional basis; reorganization of the Central Election Commission.

At a large-scale general rally of the opposition on November 17, the start of picketing of the parliament was announced, all three entrances to the building of the legislative body were blocked. Protesters say they will not be allowed to get inside deputies until their demands are met.