**Parliament’s New Rules on Boycotts: A Clearer Definition**
In a move to prevent misuse of the boycott mechanism, Georgia‘s Parliament has introduced new regulations that will take effect from July 1, 2025. According to these rules, if a member of Parliament misses an entire plenary session due to a political boycott, it will be considered an unexcused absence.
**The Problem with General Boycotts**
In the past, some members have been using the boycott mechanism in bad faith to avoid having their absences from plenary sessions classified as unexcused. This has led to abuse of the system, where entire plenary weeks or even full parliamentary sessions were boycotted without a valid reason. The current regulations adopted in 2018 allowed for boycotts related to specific issues under discussion, but this was not being enforced strictly enough.
**What’s Changing**
The new regulations aim to clarify the mechanism and prevent such abuse. Now, if a member of Parliament wants to boycott a plenary session, they must specify the agenda item that is being boycotted. This can be done either in writing to the Speaker or verbally during the session. If the boycott statement does not relate to a specific issue on the agenda, it will be considered an unexcused absence.
**A Clearer Path Ahead**
The new rules bring much-needed clarity and accountability to the parliamentary system. By specifying that boycotts must relate to a particular agenda item, Parliament is ensuring that members are held responsible for their absences. This change will help prevent abuse of the boycott mechanism and promote transparency in the legislative process.
Read More @ www.interpressnews.ge