Need of cooperation in Parliament’s first session
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, November 21
The President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, addressed the 9th Parliament of Georgia on Friday, and offered talks between executive and legislative powers on challenging and problematic issues.
The President stated under the new Parliament constitutional majority was in the hands of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party [116 seats in the 115 seats in the 150-member legislative body], which enabled the party pass the amendments without the opposition’s support.
“I will remind you of one truth - excess concentration of power is dangerous even one doesn’t intend anything bad,” Margvelashvili said.
“I believe that cooperation between the executive and the legislative governments will ensure stable, balanced and business-oriented situation in the country. We should also create additional instruments for more involving of civil sector in the decision-making process,” the President added.
The President stressed one of such challenging issues was the country’s main law-Constitution- which was changed under the previous United National Movement Government and amended by the Georgian Dream authorities.
Margvelashvili stressed the Constitution must be re-amended with a large scaled public involvement for it to draw clear lines between the authorities of the President, Prime Minister and Parliament.
Earlier Margvelashvili also offered creation of a format with the leadership of himself, Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker to address the issue.
The President also stressed Georgia required fundamental justice reform and offered the invitation of the European Union experts to help in this regard.
Margvelashvili also stated that Parliament should adopt “stronger measures” to defend media rights.
During the speech, Margvelashvili declared that 2017 will be the year of education, and stressed that only an educated individual could achieve “inner, social and political freedoms”.
Responding to the statement about the Constitution acting PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated amending the Constitution was not very urgent and the process was likely to take a year.
“The President would be one of the most important figures involved in the amendment of the Constitution. However, I believe that constitutional changes should be prepared under Parliament, as the body is tasked for such issues,” Kvirikashvili stated.
Members of the United National Movement opposition think that the President’s appeal regarding the Constitution isright, however, they are scepticalthat the ruling team will allow large-scale discussions concerning the issue.
The UNM believes that one of the first amendments in the Constitution will be the method of electing the President, as some in the ruling party have stated that the President should be appointed and not elected.
