Georgia’s President to Transfer Her Salary to Special Fund

At a press conference on Friday, President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has said she intends to transfer her presidential salary to a special fund. 

Zurabishvili said that now that the Presidential Fund has been abolished, she should be a contributor to charity and innovative activities.

“I decided that a special fund is to be established for others strongly encouraged to follow my idea,” she said, adding she was already receiving benefits from an accumulative pension in France and therefore would be readily able to donate the presidential salary to other endeavors.

Under the changes reflected in the 2019 budget of Georgia, the Presidential Reserve Fund, the budget of which last year was GEL 5 million, has been abolished.

Moreover, the budget of the Presidential Administration will be GEL 6 million, down from GEL 9,800,000 in 2018.

In addition, the number of employees of the new President’s Administration will be reduced by about 60%. Currently, 140 people are working in the administration but withing the changes, there will remain only 60 employees.

By Thea Morrison

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