Shalva Papuashvili Presents Parliament's 2023 Report and Calls on Opposition to Cooperate
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, February 23, 2024
The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, noted during the presentation of the 2023 report to the Parliament that 65 plenary sessions were held and 622 laws were adopted in 2023.
"Despite the challenges, Parliament did not cease its efforts to protect the interests of our people and homeland through legislative, supervisory, or other activities," Papuashvili said.
Papuashvili mentioned notable laws adopted by the Parliament, including those related to various sectors such as water resources, tourism, and defense. He expressed concern that the opposition has rarely participated in discussing these crucial laws, despite their significance for the well-being of the population and Georgia's alignment with the European Union.
"Among the adopted laws, notable ones include: laws on the management of water resources, industrial emissions, tourism, public procurement, electronic commerce, personal data protection, Defense Code, Penal Code, and amendments to the Law on Broadcasting. Unfortunately, with rare exceptions, the opposition has hardly participated in the discussion of such laws. However, it is issues like these that are crucial for improving the well-being of our population and for our essential alignment with the European Union," Papuashvili stated.
The Chairman highlighted that during the reporting period, the Parliament processed a significant number of legislative initiatives, international treaties, agreements, conventions, and reports, along with candidates submitted for confidence. Additionally, 142 legislative proposals and 8 petitions were submitted for consideration, and 139 members of Parliament exercised their right of legislative initiative.
Papuashvili addressed the opposition and called for cooperation.
"I would like to address you with a proposal for cooperation. Georgia is our shared homeland. Although people support the Georgian Dream, it does not mean that our victory will belong to the Georgian Dream alone. Therefore, we appeal to you to join us. Let us make this year not a year of radicalization and confrontation, but a year of democratic parliamentary elections, overcoming geopolitical challenges, uniting the country, and moving closer to the European Union and NATO. This is the main interest of the population, the primary interest of our united and common motherland - Georgia," Papuashvili said.
