Majoritarian MPs Bureau Activity Research

Majoritarian MPs Bureau Activity Research was conducted within Regional Civil Society Network (R-CSN). Regional Civil Society Network is facilitated by CSO CiDA and supported by EWMI GPAC program financed by USAID.

The contents of the research do not necessarily reflect the views of EWMI and USAID

Introduction
Regional Civil Society Network (R-CSN) is very active in different regions of Georgia since 2012 as studies local problems and tries to assist in overcoming the difficulties. R-CSN consists of around 40 NGOs from different regions. Majoritarian MPs Bureau Activity Research became pressing issue after researches conducted in different regions showed that individual member of the parliament doesnt participate, or is not fully involved in solving the local problems of region from here he/she was elected through the majoritarian system. In order to study the problem different research methods were used. 22 member NGOs were involved in the research. 1. Civil Development Agency (CiDA); 2. Georgian Civil Development Association; 3. Center for civil research and development 4. Kakheti Regional development agency; 5. Center for Civil Activities; 6. Information Center of Kvemo Kartli; 7. For better future 8. Anti Violence network Mtskheta - Mtianeti regional committee 9. Dusheti development fund 10. Stephantsminda 11. Gori Disabled Club 12. Association tolerant 13. Svaneti tourism center 14. Association Zekari 15. Association of Young Economists of Georgia Kutaisi office 16. Georgian Young Lawyers Association Kutaisi office 17. Association Chiaturians Union 18. Tkibuli District Development Fund 19. Georgian Democratic Development Union 20. Lanchkhuti information center 21. Association Atinati 22. Institute of Democracy
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Purpose for the research

The purpose of the research is to evaluate Majoritarian MPs Bureau Activity Research

Objectives of the research

Evaluation of the majoritarian MPs bureaus practice; Evaluation of the same bureaus legislation regulations.

Methodology
Three types of research methods were used to reach the objectives of the research: 1. The rule on functions, organization and activities of the Majoritarian MPs Bureau Activity Research and the rule on disposition of the funds allocated for the bureau from parliament budget was analyzed. 2. Survey of the village inhabitants. Equal number of respondents participated in the survey in each region (150 in each region). To form the framework of selection number of population was taken into consideration. According to the number of population villages were divided into 3 categories: small village from 50 to 200 inhabitants, medium sized village - from 200 to 1000 inhabitants, large village more than 1000 inhabitants. In total 1496 respondents participated in the survey covering whole territory of Georgia. Survey was conducted by Applied Research Company.

Table 1. Municipalities and villages that participated in research Municipality Adjara Kobuleti Village Khutsubani Shuagele Okhtomi Tchakhati Khelvachauri Kakhaberi Sharabidzeebi Kvariati Guria Ozurgeti Ozurgeti Tskhinvali Gonebiskari Archeuli Lanchkhuti Kvemo Shukhuti Kveda Mamati Oragve Imereti Zestafoni Argveta Shrosha Leladziseuli Tskhaltubo Geguti Joneti Mekvena Mtskheta - Mtianeti Mtskheta Mukhrani Gorovani Tskhvarichamia Dusheti Daba Fasanauri Tsitelsofeli Kvemo Mleta Racha Lechkhumi Kvemo Svaneti Zemo Joshma Kviriketsminda Kveda Lukhvano Tsageri Orbeli
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Ambrolauri

Sadmeli

Bardnala Nakuraleti Tola Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti Zugdidi Rukhi Anaklia Oireme Senaki Old Senaki Satskhvitaro Reka Samtskhe - Javakheti Akhalkalaki Khulgumo Chunchkha Takhcha Akhaltsikhe Tsnisi Zemo Skhivisi Ivlita Chacharaki Kvemo Kartli Marneuli Kizil Azalo Ilmazlo Small Beglar Gardabani Sartichala Mzianeti Kiketi Shida Kartli Gori Karaleti Megvrevisi Shavshvebi Khashuri Tskhramukha Nabakhtevi Zemo Brolosani Kakheti Gurjaani Kardanakhi Zegaani Kitaani Telavi Ruispiri Saniore Kobadze
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3. Using questioner developed by R-CSN interviewing of majoritarian MPs Bureau was conducted. R-CSN member NGOs send questionnaires along with official letter to all heads of 64 majoritarian MP bureaus. The questioner consisting of 20 questions included open and closed questions and ensured receipt of qualitative and quantitative information. 41 bureaus cooperated with the R-CSN and filled the questioner. From three bureaus (Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Abasha) we received brief info on performance of the bureau instead of the filled questioner, as for Poti bureau, they sent description of their activities in PPT format. Other bureaus because of different reasons (non existence of the bureau, considering activities of the bureau to be confidential, postpone of filling the questioner till unspecified time and etc) didnt fill in the questioner. Table gives list of the bureaus according to regions; The list of those that participated in the survey is marked with X: Region Kakheti Khidasheli Tinatin #11 Sagarejo Gelashvili Gela #13 Signagi Gozalishvili Giorgi #15 Lagodekhi Samkharauli Gela #17 Telavi Zviadauri Zurabi #18 Akhmeta Giorgi Gviniashvili #12 Gurjaani Kedelasjvo;o Zaza #14 Dedoplistskharo Verilashvili Marika #16 Kvareli Mtskheta Mtianeti Khundadze Dimitri #27 X Shida Kartli Onoprishvili Davit #30 Kaspi X
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Filled Kvemo Kartli X X X

Region

Filled

Dzidziguri Zviadi #20 Rustavi Feikrishvili Giorgi #21 Gardabani Suleimanovi Azeri/ #22 Marneuli

X X X

X X

Nakopia Koba #23 Bolnisi Okriashvili Kakhaberi #24 Dmanisi Shavlokhashvili Revazi#25 Tsalka

X X X

Bejuashvili Daviti #26 Tetritskharo

Mtskheta Tripolski Erekle #28 Dusheti Tsiklauri Miriani #29 Kazbegi Kutsnashvili Zakaria #19 Tianeti X X X Vakhtangishvili Malkhazi #32 Gori Khabelovi Leri #33 Kareli Gelashvili Valeri #35 Khashuri X X X

Samtskhe - Javakheti Londaridze Tarieli #39 Aspindza Chitashvili Vaja #37 Akhaltsikhe Popkhadze Gedevani #36 Borjomi Chilingarashvili Zurabi #38 Adigeni Etrosiani Samveli #40 Akhalkalaki Mkoiani Enzeli #41 Ninotsminda Guria Kvatchantiradze Zviadi #60 Ozurgeti Chkhaidze Teimurazi #61 Lanchkhuti Chkuaseli Teimurazi #62 Chokhatauri X X X X X

Adjara Shervashidze Iasha#80 Keda Khalvashi Fati #81 Kobuleti X X

Megrelidze Omari #82 Shuakhevi

Khalvashi Rostomi #83 Khelvachauri

Bolkvadze Anzori #84 Khulo

Dumbadze Murman #79 Batumi

Racha Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Enukidze Gocha #44 Ambrolauri X

Khabuliani Sergo #45 Tsageri

Liparteliani Gogi#46 Lentekhi

Japaridze Tamazi #43 Oni Imereti Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti

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Ebanoidze Nodari #48 Kharagauli Kobakhidze Manana #50 Sachkhere Giorgi Kavtaradze #51 Zestaponi Tchavtchanidze Davit #55 Khoni Tsereteli Malkhazi #56 Chiatura Chapidze Eliso #57 Tkibuli Bobokhidze Akaki #58 Tskhaltubo Sanikidze Gubazi #59 Kutaisi

Japaridze Viktor #47 Mestia

Dartsmelidze Davit #63 Abasha

Misabishvili Gurami #64 Senaki

Janashia Nauli #65 Martvili

X X

Bukia Goderdzi #66 Khobi Akhalaia Ronaldi #67 Zugdidi Kardava Levani #68 Tsalenjikha X

Lemonjava Vakhtangi #69 Chkhorotsku

Bitskhrikidze Kakha #49 Terjola Lejava Paata #53 Vani Kakhiani Giorgi #54 Samtredia Kiknavelidze Paata # Bagdati

Beselia Eka #70 Foti

Conclusion Bureaus activities of MPs elected through the majoritarian system is regulated by the rule on functions, organization and activities of the Majoritarian MPs Bureau Activity Research and the rule on disposition of the funds allocated for the bureau from parliament budget was analyzed. The existing document is a framework for the Bureus activities, though the document doesnt structure methodology of bureaus work, not determines the qualification and number of the staff. Among 1496 respondents from different villages of Georgia, 39% dont know who their majoritarian MP is. 42,5% of respondents dont have information about the work of their
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candidate in the parliament. More than half of the respondents (52,6%) have met with their district candidate only during pre-election period and 39,3% have not met with them at all. After election only 13,8% had kept in contact with the candidate during post election meeting, while 4% met during meetings initiated by themselves/neighbors. 56% of respondents are not even aware where the bureaus of MPs elected through the majoritarian system are located. Questioner was filled out by 41 bureaus; among these bureaus 30 of them fully filled the questioner. From three bureaus (Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Abasha) we received brief information on work of the bureau instead of the filled questioner, as for Poti bureau, they sent description of their activities in PPT format. Other bureaus because of different reasons (non existence of the bureau, considering activities of the bureau to be confidential, postpone of filling the questioner till unspecified time and etc) didnt fill in the questioner. According to the research average number of bureaus staff consists of 5 persons. Total of 159 personnel, the fewer employs (2) are in Zestafoni, Senaki, Marneuli, Signagi and Khelvachauri bureau and 10 employs in Dmanisi majoritarian bureau. According to the information obtained from the bureaus, from the opening day till present, the total number of persons who applied to 41 bureaus is 30 533. 7 753 were written applications while 22 780 were oral. Population refers to bureau to solve the following disputes: 1. Social assistance; 2. Problems of Eco-emigrants; 3. Medical operations and finance of the process; 4. Finance of university (each); 5. Employment 6. Legal issues/disputes 7. Communal problems, damaged houses, problems related water and gas supply. 8. Reimbursement of damage for natural damage 9. Legalize the space 10. Human Rights; 11. Giving the living space; 12. Restoration of justice
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Most of the bureaus either have not conducted or plan to conduct the research in near future, though they do needs assessment of the residents through the applications received and problem discussions during the meetings. Majoritarian bureaus cooperate with local state institutions, try to solve problems in cooperation with them and constantly approach these institutions with motions. Budget funds allocated for operation of bureaus is considered to be sufficient by most of the bureaus. Though most of them are located in buildings of local state institutions and in case they move to separate buildings then more funds will be required for office maintenance. The opinion about having additional funds to support specific social, cultural, medical programs and assist socially vulnerable citizens is important. Bureaus cooperation with NGOs is mainly focused on trainings, sharing information, participating in working groups, organizing joint campaigns and assisting in coordination on local level. Cooperation with media bureaus mainly cooperate with local media, inform them about activities of majoritarian MPs and bureaus, also participate in TV shows, trainings and give interviews. In Tsalenjikha region local TV channel broadcast the show An hour with MP, where residents can contact the majoritarian MP directly. Telavi Bureau was the only that mentioned about use of social media. Recommendations MPs should pay more attention to work of bureaus and generally to communication with electorate; Besides the regulation, its important to have strategic document/methodology guideline to ensure that bureaus manage to achieve goals and objectives prescribed by regulation effectively. Involve staff of the bureau in relevant trainings to advance their qualification; Developing closer cooperation with NGOs working in the area, as they have long term knowledge of the existing problems, experience of communication with donor organizations and media representative;

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 Information about work of bureaus be given to electorate to ensure that they understand difference between bureaus and other structural units; Based on the analysis employees qualification should be linked to the bureaus work, that should be performed according to the regulation; Ensure consistent work of bureaus: through problem assessment, analysis, development of action plan, its implementation and peoples outcome.

Address:
CSO CiDA Georgia, Rustavi 3700, 9/1 Firosmani str. Tel.: +995 0 341 25 88 24 Tel./Fax:: +955 0 341 24 24 34 Email: pr@cida.ge Web: www.cida.ge

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