Parliament Approves Majority MP as Constitutional Court Judge

TBILISI – The Parliament of Georgia approved the majority MP and former parliament Speaker, Manana Kobakhidze for the position of the Constitutional Court Judge on Wendesday.

101 MPs voted for Kobakhidze and only 10 were against in the 150-seat legislative body.

Kobakhidze’s responsibilities as an MP were suspended upon her new appointment.

The position in the constitutional court became vacant in September 2016 when Judge Ketevan Eremadze’s 10-year term expired.

Kobakhidze’s candidacy was submitted to the parliament on January 24, 2017 by the ruling party Georgian Dream (GD), which has 115 MPs and has formed a constitutional majority in the Parliament.

The new judge thanked the majority MPs for their support and said that she will help to establish constitutional order.

“Any political ties are left in the past. My decisions will be based only on the principles of the Constitution, and the circumstances of the cases,” she noted.

The opposition criticizes the ruling party for supporting Kobakhidze and says the government aims to influence the court by appointing their own member.

Parliamentary minority, Movement for Freedom-European Georgia, says that Kobakhidze is politically biased, and she does not fit the position. Former ruling party the United national Movement has the same position.

Meanwhile, Majority says that Kobakhidze is an experienced professional, and she will be a successful judge.

The constitutional court consists of nine judges. The president, parliament and the Supreme Court each appoint three members of the Court for a 10-year term. 

 By Thea Morrison