Rising Tensions: PM Unhappy with President Attending Gov’t Meeting
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s address to the PM to hold the governmental meeting and discuss the most important issues of the country with his participation has led to a disagreement between the two institutions, following an accusation that the human rights situation has worsened under this government.
“We are ready for the meeting, but the topics for the government meetings are specifically regulated. The administration of the Government of Georgia will release a statement about this,” Bakhtadze said, adding it is categorically unacceptable for the President to compare the human rights situation under the current and the previous governments.
The President’s Parliamentary Secretary Ana Natsvlishvili stated that she sent a relevant letter to the administration of the Government of Georgia, requesting the President’s participation in the upcoming government meeting.
Natia Mikeladze, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Government, said the Prime Minister is ready to convene a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers if the President personally addresses him and not the President’s Parliamentary Secretary.
“The Governmental Administration has not refused to allow the President to attend the meeting. If Margvelashvili sends the letter to us himself, we will discuss the issue,” Mikeladze stated.
The President’s Parliamentary Secretary says the reply of the PM’s Administration is “irresponsible” as it makes no difference whether the President addresses the PM himself or through his secretary.
“The answer we got from the Governmental Administration means they do not want to discuss the grave situation which our country is in at present,” Natsvlishvili stressed.
She said not allowing the President to attend the cabinet session is a violation of the Georgian Constitution.
Presidential candidates claim the action of the Governmental Administration is a breach of the Georgian Constitution Article 78, which allows the President to attend governmental sittings if necessary.
The United Opposition’s presidential candidate, Grigol Vashadze, believes that snap elections in the country are necessary to “get rid of a government that violates the country’s constitution.”
Candidate of the parliamentary minority European Georgia, David Bakradze, also has the same position.
“The PM does not realize how serious the situation in the country is. He rejects dialogue and refuses to discuss the issues which are at the center of society’s attention,” Bakradze noted.
Former Parliament Speaker and presidential candidate David Bakradze says the pre-election environment in the country resembles “fighting without rules.”
“I call on the government to accept the President’s offer and hold the meeting. They should discuss the issue of early parliamentary elections, which is the only way out of the existing political crisis,” he stressed.
Analysts and constitutionalists say if the government does not give access for Margvelashvili to attend the sitting, it will be a gross violation of the Constitution and may serve as ground for the PM’s impeachment.
“At the next session of the cabinet, the PM should put the President’s issue on the agenda and let him participate in the meeting. If he does not do so, he will violate the Constitution, which might serve as a reason for his impeachment,” Vakhushti Menabde, Constitution Specialist stated.
By Thea Morrison
Photo Source: Georgian Journal