US Embassy Disappointed about Absence of Consensus over Constitution

The United States (US) Embassy in Georgia has released a statement regarding the recent developments over the constitutional amendments in Georgia, saying they share the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

“The Embassy places strong weight on the opinion of the Venice Commission, and supports its recommendations,” the statement reads.

The Embassy also stressed that they are disappointed that the sides involved in the process could not reach consensus.

“The Embassy believes that constitutional changes create the strongest basis for lasting reform when they enjoy broad-based consensus across parties and society,” the embassy added.

The Parliament of Georgia overruled the President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s veto on the constitutional amendments at the extraordinary session on October 13.

After overruling the veto, the parliamentary Georgian Dream (GD) majority adopted the primary version of the bill with 117 votes for and 7 against.

The ruling GD has many times overridden presidential veto, because it has 116 MPs in a 150-seat parliament.

The Presidential administration, opposition and the Non-Governmental Organizations claim the constitution is “one-party” and it was adopted by the ruling party without reaching the consensus with the other opposition parties and the President.

By Thea Morrison

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