Venice Commission Secretary praises process of drafting constitutional changes in Georgia

Secretary of the Venice Commission Thomas Markert says that the Commission has "a positive attitude” towards the process in which Georgia’s constitutional changes are being drafted.

Markert made this comment at a conference in Berlin, Germany where Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze introduced the draft constitutional law to Markert, as well as experts, constitutionalists and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

"On the whole, it is clear that we have a positive attitude to the whole process. We think that a new Constitution will be a step forward”, Markert said.

"But what is particularly important now is to have a consensus within society and political parties”, he added.

He said a consensus is needed especially on two issues: the way the President is elected and the way system mandates are distributed at Parliament.

Listen to Markert’s full remarks below.

The Venice Commission will officially release its opinion regarding Georgia’s draft constitution and the environment the changes are being made in on June 16

More about the discussion of the constitutional changes in Berlin can be found here.