New campaign urges citizen participation in review of constitution

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has launched a campaign encouraging citizens to voice their opinion on proposed amendments to the current constitution.

The campaign will include public discussions in Georgia’s regions over possible changes such as: the model of the election system, local self-government and people’s role in monitoring politicians, amongst other issues.

Margvelashvili spoke at the Presidential Palace today with representatives of state and civil society organisations, where he mentioned that the parliament of the country has already initiated fundamental changes to the constitution.

Margvelashvili believes the document will not be written behind the doors "as it was in the past”.

The constitution is the free will of free people living under one unique space…. It is a contract signed by the individual citizen with other citizens and the state on how they should be functioning as a nation and the country”, he said.

To make a constitution "the document of consent”, President Margvelashvili announced the launching of a campaign "Constitution for All”, which he said aims at giving an opportunity to each and every person from all the different groups and backgrounds living in Georgia to express their opinion over this important state document.

Margvelashvili believes this process will support the state constitutional commission working on constitutional changes by bringing them the voice of the main inspirers of the document – the Georgian people.

The State Constitutional Commission decided last year to review the current constitution by the end of April 2017, which is to be followed by public discussions over proposed changes. The 73-member commission unites state and civil society organisations, parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties and experts.