Georgian President Walks out during Annual Report

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili left the session of Parliament on May 2, while presenting his annual report.

Margvelashvili made the decision after Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze refused to allow the President to debate and answer the questions of the MPs.

Kobakhidze stated this would be "a violation of the Rules of Procedure and the President only could answer questions in his final speech."

"I do not remember such a precedent that President is not able to answer questions. Make a change to the rules so that I can get involved in the debates. Otherwise, I will not attend the session," Giorgi Margvelashvili said.

The Speaker then accused the President of disrespect of the legislative body.

“Giorgi Margvelashvili showed disrespect for the Parliament. “We have a procedure for the debate, which has been valid since the 90s. This is a rational procedure and applies to various types of debates and discussions,” he said

Afterwards, the Speaker offered lawmakers the chance to vote for changes in the format and include debates in it; however, only 28 MPs voted for the changes, with 50 MPS against. The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) has 116 MPs in a 150-seat parliament.

Parliamentary opposition parties who voted in favor of the debates, left the session in protest.

As European Georgia leader Davit Bakradze said, it seemed "unreasonable to continue participation in a process which did not support the format that would allow the President to return to the hall." 

After the Parliament adopted a decision that no amendments would be made to the regulations to allow the President to be involved in the debate, President Giorgi Margvelashvili left the Parliament building located in Kutaisi.

By Thea Morrison