Georgia\'s Democratic Dilemma

Despite some problems, the international community positively assessed the first round of Georgia's parliamentary elections as largely in accordance with democratic standards and representing a step forward towards consolidating democracy. Yet the elections also revealed major structural weaknesses in Georgia's young democracy that go far beyond election day. In particular, controversial electoral legislation that does not adequately reflect the preferences of the electorate as well as the prevalence of an underdeveloped political culture both among political parties and voters. These problems have turned seemingly harmless elections into the danger of one party getting a parliamentary supermajority.