Constitutional Court Chair: addressing Venice Commission judicial recommendations will require “time, consensus”

Merab Turava, the Chair of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, on Monday said reflection of all judicial recommendations issued by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe towards the country’s authorities required “time and consensus” among domestic political actors. 

In his press comments, Turava noted “a number of judicial amendments” had been implemented in domestic laws in compliance with international recommendations, which he said had garnered “positive evaluations” both domestically and internationally.

I believe, in the end, all recommendations of the Venice Commission will be reflected in related Georgian laws”, he said. 

The official added several issues related to the recommendations were being discussed by the Constitutional Court as part of the ongoing judiciary reform, adding effecting changes in legislation was also a “time-consuming process that necessitates consensus”. 

He further said achieving consensus was “challenging” not only in Georgia but globally, given “changes to legislation are not made by individuals or small groups”, adding amendments generally resulted from decisions made by parliamentary majorities. 

Turava also highlighted the control mechanism provided by the Constitutional Court to rectify “any unconstitutional or incorrectly formulated” aspects in the legislation.