President delivers annual address in parliament

The Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili delivered his final, annual speech in parliament today, as his presidential term expires this year.

The speech was attended by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and government representatives.

We can say that many things have been done after 2012 and Georgia has taken significant steps in terms of its foreign policy,” Margvelashvili stated at the beginning of his speech.

However, unfortunately, we have weakened state institutions and failed to create a more democratic state,” Margvelashvili stated.

The president said that serious progress has been achieved in terms of human rights protection and media freedom. However, he said that "without using forcible methods, journalists still have to work in a tense environment.”

Margvelashvili stated that despite the progress in terms of the protection of human rights, those individuals who carried out violence against people still retain jobs in law enforcement agencies and other state structures.

PM Kvirikashvili and several ministers attended the president's adress in parliamnet. Photo: President's press office. 

The president said that such people should have been fired and held accountable for their actions.

Speaking about the state economy Margvelashvili quoted the words of his friend, late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, that a "fridge is the best indicator of a people’s economic condition.”

Many Georgians live in poverty and they have to bear violations of their rights to preserve jobs. Unemployment remains one of the most serious problems in Georgia,” Margvelashvili said.

The president stated that no genuine steps have been taken to empower the opposition in Georgia, and that a strong opposition could play only a positive role for a country’s democratic development.

Both the parliamentary majority and minority were unhappy with the president’s speech.   

The opposition members said that they were waiting for more critical assessments from the president, while the Georgian Dream majority lawmakers said the speech was "superficial.”

The PM said that he was waiting for a "deeper analyses” from Margvelashvili, as well as hearing answers how certain problems could be settled.