The Parliament Supports President's Nominees as Members of the National Bank of Georgia Council
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, September 22, 2023
At the plenary session of the Parliament, MPs voted in favor of the President's nominees for the Board of the National Bank of Georgia: Nana Keinishvili and Teimuraz Khomeriki.
Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze stated that he had 'heard' that the candidates for membership on the board of the National Bank were summoned to President Salome Zourabichvili and asked to decline their candidacy.
According to Kobakhidze, the "Alliance of the President and the Radical Opposition" is attempting to pull everything and everyone out of the constitutional framework and engage in deliberate sabotage. To prevent this, the majority decided to support the candidates.
"Furthermore, according to our information, these candidates were summoned to the President yesterday and asked to submit statements of refusal. What could be more concerning than such sabotage and pressure? One of the two candidates has a history, and I have been informed about this history... When you hold the position of President in Georgia, you should not stoop as low as Salome Samadashvili. I won't list the names of others," said Kobakhidze.
Archil Talakvadze, a member of the parliamentary majority, also commented, stating that the Georgian Parliament made the best decision in the interest of citizens and the state by approving the President's nominated candidates for the National Bank.
According to Talakvadze, the expected crisis in the board of the National Bank of Georgia has been practically prevented.
"The bank continues to operate stably and normally. Yesterday, we saw the United National Movement exerting pressure on the President of Georgia regarding candidate withdrawals. I want to assure citizens that there is no mechanism for candidate withdrawals outlined in the law and regulations. When the President nominates candidates to Parliament, her role in the process concludes. In full compliance with the law, two new members were appointed to the Board of the National Bank. I urge citizens to remain calm; there is no reason to panic. The National Bank and the banking system continue to function normally," stated Talakvadze.
