City Council session failed

The budget was going to be discussed in a special assembly session of Tbilisi City Council but only a handful of members showed up so the meeting was cancelled.

Yesterday’s special assembly was canceled as minority members did not attend and only 15 members from the majority were present.

Head of the City Council, Irakli Shikhiashvili, said they came to make a quorum, but because the minority did not show up, there was not enough people to continue the meeting.

"I received two letters. One was from the City Hall and another from the 17 members of the City Council who were demanding immediate assembly session. I decided to appoint the special assembly in reasonable time – two hours after the regular session,” Shikhiashvili said.

"We were prepared and were going to present the budget project but the minority did not show up,” he added.

Shikhiashvili also blamed City Hall for controlling the Council’s minority and strongly demanded the current Mayor of Tbilisi and head of the Financial Departement to show up to the City Council.

Last December, Tbilisi City Council failed to approve the 2014 budget for the capital city. At least 24 votes are needed to pass the proposed budget. The budget was supported by 18 delegates, 21 voted against and 3 opted not to vote.

Disagreements between the majority and minority surrounded the budget distribution as well as budget priorities defined by the city government.