Gov’t Plans to Reduce Number of Self-Governing Cities
TBILISI – The government of Georgia is going to reduce the number of self-governing cities from twelve to five. This means that during the local elections Mayors will be only elected in Tbilisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Kutaisi and Poti. The other cities will be left without such opportunity.
The information was confirmed by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.
The majority believes that the Local Self-Government Code, which was activated in 2014 and which increased number of self-governing cities from five to twelve, needs to be revised.
The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure is working on the issue, which says that the increase of such cities did not bring positive results as was expected.
“The administrative expenses were doubled, also the effectiveness of governance decreased,” deputy minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Kakha Guledani stated.
However, the ministry stressed that the planned amendments do not refer to the direct election rule of the Mayors and Governors.
120 public, media and non-governmental organizations address Speaker of Georgian Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili with the request not to abolish self-governing status of 7 cities: Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, Gori, Telavi, Akhaltsikhe, Mtskheta and Ambrolauri.
The organizations believe that this action will be a step backwards for the country. According to them, it is unacceptable to abolish the self-governing entities formed after 2014.
The authors of the document urge the Government to formulate a clear position and not make a decision that would hamper the process of development.
The opposition believes that the intention of the majority is targeted to abolishing of the direct elections of the Mayors and governors. They say the majority wants to centralize the power.
Opposition party Alliance of Patriots of Georgia (APG) believes that the decision should be made after active consultations with the people.
“Population should have the right to decide whether they support these changes or not,” APG member, Irma Inashvili said.
Irakli Abesadze, member of the parliamentary minority Movement for Freedom-European Georgia believes that these amendments will weaken local governing, while the United National Movement (UNM) says the direct elections of the Mayors and Governors are vital.
Chairman of Parliament says that detailed discussions are necessary over the issue.
When it comes to self-governance, it is very important to have a cautious approach," Kobakhidze said.
By Thea Morrison