Consultations discussing new chair of Supreme Court ahead

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili says he is ready to begin consultations with any stakeholder regarding candidates who wish to vie for the position of chair of the Supreme Court.

The President must choose the new chairperson of the Supreme Court, as the 10-year term of incumbent chairman Konstantine Kublashvili will expire on February 23, 2015.

Margvelashvili will hold his first consultations regarding this issue with representatives of Georgia’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) tomorrow.

"I call on all stakeholders, both in civil society and in Parliament, to join these consultations and share their opinions. It will help us to nominate the best candidate.”

The President said he was interested in the opinions of Parliamentary majority and minority groups, as well as of the civil society and experts.

"Of course the burden of the final decision lies with the President,” he said.

Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani welcomed the President’s readiness for consultations. She stressed the Georgian Constitution did not oblige the President to hold such consultations and Margvelashvili only had a "moral obligation” to do so.

The President must nominate a candidate, who will then require endorsement by Parliament. If the candidate gains the support of at least 76 MPs, they they will be approved as chairperson of the Supreme Court of Georgia.