Georgia’s President Opens First Session of New Parliament
KUTAISI, Georgia – Georgia’s President, Giorgi Margvelashvili opened the first session of the new parliament, elected through October elections, in city Kutaisi, West Georgia on Friday.
The President assessed the elections positively but said there were some violations too.
“Generally the elections were held in a free environment. As a result, we have democratically elected 150 deputies, who will carry out formation of future legislative and executive branches of government," the President said and congratulated MPs on winning the election victory and wished them success.
Moreover, Margvelashvili thanked all the observing organizations, political parties, electoral commissions and the media, which ensured the continuity of the democratic process.
The President offered a regime of co-operation and constructive dialogue due to the interests of the state and citizens.
He expressed readiness to establish the practice of prior consultations on problematic, strategically important issues and to present his vision about the issues that need improvement and perfection.
Marvgelashvili noted that constitutional majority belongs to one party -the ruling Georgian Dream (GD), which will legitimately approve a new government.
However, the President reminded that “excessive concentration of power is dangerous” and called on the GD to fulfill all pre-election promises they gave to the population of Georgia. According to him, the state today needs balance mechanisms to ensure that power is not only in one branch.
Moreover, Margvelashvili spoke about the need of revision Georgia’s constitution, saying it was defective.
“The 2013 edition of the Constitution is defective and needs to be revised, but achieving general consensus will be needed for it”, he said.
The President spoke about the need of changing judiciary system and called on the parliament to invite European Union’s (EU) Justice and Rule of Law Mission in order to implement Georgia’s judiciary system development strategy.
Furthermore, Margvelashvili initiated to set up National Security unified strategy due to the recent development on the world and in the region.
He also said that education is main tool for the development of the country and a guarantee for better future.
“I announce 2017 as the year of education, as the education is liberty. Only educated person achieves internal, social and political freedom,” he stated.
The session was attended by the Patriarch of Georgia, other clergy, Chairmen of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, representatives of the diplomatic corps, Chairman of the Central Election Commission and the media.
The first round of Georgia’s parliamentary elections were held on October 8 and the run-offs were held in 50 districts on October 30. The elections revealed that only three political parties managed to pass the election threshold and gain seats in Georgia’s ninth Parliament. These parties are: Ruling party Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia 115 seats, main opposition Party United National Movement- 27 mandates and Alliance of Patriots of Georgia -6 seats.
By Thea Morrison