The Cabinet list will not change in the next seven days, says Justice Minister

"The list [the President] has on the table today will be exactly the same in seven days and he will present this list to Parliament then,” said Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani while discussing President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s decision to postpone his signing of the new list of Cabinet members.

The President has chosen to use the seven-day period granted to him by the Constitution of Georgia before he signs the document, and there was "nothing alarming” in his choice to utilise this right, she said.

She made this comment while explaining the process, which follow on from President Margvelashvili’s decision to postpone his signature on the PM’s nominated list of Cabinet members.

To confirm, the list of nominated ministers will not change within the next seven days.

Today members of the Government of Georgia clarified situation and noted the Government would continue to operate effectively, after three minister nominees were presented by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili today.

The Speaker of Georgia’s Parliament David Uspashvili also discussed the issue and said the President was entitled to wait up to a week before signing the Cabinet list.

"It is President’s prerogative to use the seven-day period granted to him by the Constitution, and he can decide when [during the next seven days] to present the approved list to the Parliament,” Usupashvili said.

"He is obliged to present to the Government the list that was offered to him by the Prime Minister. Therefore, not presenting the list after seven days have passed is not the President’s authority,” Usupashvili said.

The Government’s Parliamentary Secretary Shalva Tadumadze today confirmed all members of the Government of Georgia maintained their authority, therefore the Government was authorised to carry out its usual activities.

"The President has the Constitutional authority to present the new Cabinet members to Parliament within seven days. The Government is continuing to function, therefore, every minister has authority,” Tadumadze said. Meanwhile the three new ministerial candidates presented by PM Garibashvili today were also authorised to start working as ministers, said Tadumadze.

Georgia’s Prime Minister nominated Tariel Khechikashvili as the country’s new Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Gigla Agulashvili as the new Minister of Environment Protection and Tinatin Khidasheli for the role of Minister of Defence.

Meanwhile, Usupashvili noted minister nominees Khidasheli and Agulashvili were currently Members of Parliament (MPs), but they would soon be removed from these duties so they could fulfil their new role as ministers.

He also said as soon as the head of Government Administration would send the relevant decrees about the appointment of these two ministers to Parliament, lawmakers would start the procedures to terminate Khidasheli and Agulashvili’s authority as MPs.