The budget and finance committee of the parliament of Georgia has approved the candidacy of Irakli Mekvabishvili and are supporting his appointment as General Auditor.

The Chair of the Committee, Irakli Kovzanadze stated that Mekvabishvili is a highly qualified financier, he is a senior banker of EBRD and the during last decade he took an active part in many investment projects, both in Georgia and other countries in the region.

“I think his experience will be useful for further institutional development of the State Audit Office, as well as helping the relationship between the Parliament of Georgia and State Audit Office to become stronger” Kovzanadze stated.

Speaking before the Committee Kovzanadze spoke about his ideas and position regarding the work of the Audit Office.

He said that if Parliament declares confidence to him, he will take care of institutional development of the State Audit Office.

“The activities of the Audit Office will be based on four main principles and values - objectivity, independence, professionalism and publicity. The function of the audit service should not be punitive. It should be preventive,” the candidate stated.

Among the attending 9 members of Budget and Finance Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, 8 members supported the candidacy of Irakli Mekvabishvili and only 1 member abstained.

Mekvabishvili’s candidacy was named by the Parliament Speaker of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze on September 8.

Parliament plans to vote for Mekvabishvili’s candidacy at the plenary session on September 20. 
 
If approved, Irakli Mekvabishvili will hold the Chief Auditor’s position for a term of five years, replacing Lasha Tordia, who was appointed in 2012 and whose term in office expired in July.

The State Audit Office (SAO) is the supreme audit institution, responsible for performing audit's. The general activities of the SAO are: promoting efficient and effective public spending, protection of national wealth, the property of state of autonomous republics and local (municipal) entities and improvement of management of public finances.

The Office also conducts financial monitoring of the political parties, within the competencies defined in The Organic Law of Georgia on Election Code of Georgia and Political Union of Citizens.

The SAO is independent in its activities and in terms of its institutional subordination, funding, operation and organizational setting.

By Thea Morrison

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