President Launches Campaign – Constitution Belongs to Everyone - from Kakheti
TELAVI, Georgia – The President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili has begun his newly announced campaign—Constitution Belongs to Everyone—from Tevalvi. Margvelashvili says that he will visit each region to listen the views and positions of society about the constitution.
The presidential campaign was initiated on March 10, and it aims to increase public participation in the constitutional amendment process before its final approval. The president, the members of his administration, and leaders of various political parties arrived at Telavi State University on Monday.
The meeting was led by the Chair of the Institutional Development Center, Kote Chokoraia. At the meeting the President listened to views from students and other social groups concerning amendments to the Constitution.
While delivering speech, Margvelashvili said that in essence the Constitution is agreement of all citizens of Georgia on the fundamental rules of action. He said, “We all together plan a general framework of the law under which we live. In order to establish a unified state, spirit and society, you have to ask society members how they prefer to establish this unity and under which rules they would like to be united. The Constitution is a document which serves this purpose.”
The President said that the Constitution has been revised multiple times in Georgia and these revisions have usually taken place behind closed doors, in the interest of various political forces. He believes that only with active involvement from citizens should the final version of the document be created.
Prsident Margvelashvili then held a meeting at the Center for Civic Engagement in Telavi. The meeting was led by the Chair of the Free Democrats, Nino Goguadze. Opinions were expressed on the increased independence of local governments, the country’s territorial organization, the institution of state representatives, changes in the electoral system, lowering the electoral threshold, and transition to a proportional election system from a majoritarian one.
“We exchanged views on how to build a united, strong state, how to improve self-governance, and how to get involved in the country’s everyday life. It is important that we collectively write the Constitution and respect each others diverse opinions,” the President noted.
In December 2016 the 73-member State Constitutional Commission was formed in order to make amendments to the country’s constituion before the end of April 2017, which will followed by public discussions over the proposed changes.
The commission is composed of state and civil organizations, parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, and experts. The presidential administration was also invited to take part in the work of the commission, however, they rejected the proposal, saying the format of the commission was not different from the previous ones, where citizens were not properly involved.
The majority disapproves of the Presidential discussions and calls on him to take part in the work of the commission.
“President's statements and parallel PR campaign[...]are ridiculous,” Vice-Premier and Energy Minister of Georgia, Kakha Kaladze said.
The final amendments proposed by the Constitutional Commission must gain at least 113 votes from the 150-member Parliament to be approved and introduced as law. The ruling party Georgian Dream enjoys the constitutional majority in the legislative body with 116 lawmakers.
By Thea Morrison