President addresses new Parliament, offers new type of cooperation

The country's new Parliament have met today for the first time since being elected through last month's Parliamentary Elections.

Today President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili addressed the ninth Parliament of Georgia and offered a "new regime of cooperation and constructive dialogue” between the executive and legislative governments, which envisioned more talks between the President and lawmakers on challenging and problematic issues. 

In his welcome speech Margvelashvili congratulated the 150 people on gaining seats in the new Parliament of Georgia and he stressed their high responsibility before the state. 

Margvelashvili told the lawmakers he had wished to see a "more multi-party” Parliament, which would bring "more concurrence, more discussions and debates” but he noted the current Parliament with its political majority could still ensure state advancement.

The President noted some political groups had disbanded and cracks were forming in other groups that had failed to win seats in the legislative body, which "stirred nihilism and a skeptical attitude to politicians by the public”.

Political processes never end with elections, but the opposite, a very important stage starts right after the elections both for Parliamentary and non-Parliamentary parties,” President Margvelashvili said.

In his speech the President highlighted the importance of the new lawmakers being "active" and to take "extraordinary steps” to improve the state economy. He mentioned the need to make changes in the Constitution, ensure a comprehensive reform of the justice system, provide best practices to defend media freedom and the need of a high-class education system. 

What’s the President’s offer? 

The President addressed the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party, which held the constitutional majority in Parliament, and reminded them of their responsibilities before the public. By having constitutional majority, the ruling GDDG party can pass amendments to laws without the opposition’s support. 

I will remind you of one truth - excess concentration of  power is dangerous even if one doesn’t intend anything bad,”  Margvelashvili said. 

Margvelashvili stressed he was very keen to introduce a tradition of holding prior consultations between himself and Parliamentarians on issues he believed were challenging and needed refinement.

I believe the cooperation between the executive and legislative Governments will ensure stable, balanced and business-oriented situation in the country. We should also create additional instruments to allow the civil sector to be more involved in decision-making processes,” the President added. 

President of Georgia appointed the first session of the new Parliament. Photo by President's press office. 

"Active and extraordinary steps" for economy 

When speaking to the ruling GDDG party, which gained 115 seats in the 150-member legislative body, President Margvelashvili stressed the party had "all levers and tools” to ensure the right decisions were made in the best interests of supporting the state economy.

Margvelashvili noted the major concerns of the Georgian population were "unemployment and the hard economic condition” and now it was lawmakers' job to make decisions to better the lives of all Georgians.

Today is a time to be active, a time to take extraordinary steps that will ensure a better economy, that will attract foreign investments and make the national currency stable,” said the President.

That’s why I appeal to the ruling team; today you have all the opportunities and tools to meet all your election promises. You have the constitutional majority, which is a very strong lever to carry out any reform.”  

Need to review Georgia’s Constitution

Margvelashvili believed there was a strong need to review and amend the current Constitution of Georgia, which was  adopted under the previous United National Movement (UNM)-led government but later amended by Georgian Dream lawmakers.

He said the Constitution included a "range of drawbacks” that must be improved "based on large-scaled dialogue” involving a range of people. 

We must avoid fitting the Constitution to a certain political group’s interests. The Constitution must clearly draw lines between the obligations of various state institutions, ensure a balance is met and not a concentration of power only in one hand,” the President said. 

Diplomatic corps' representatives attended the first session of Georgia's Parliament. Photo by President's press office. 

Justice and Media 

A fundamental justice reform was a major task facing the modern Georgian state. 

Margvelashvili offered lawmakers the invitation of a European Union (EU) mission to help in planning and implementing the ambitious reform. 

He also recommended Parliament should strengthen media protection mechanisms and create "stronger guarantees” for this so no one inside or outside the country has any questions regarding media freedom in Georgia.

2017- the Year of Education 

Georgia's President declared 2017 as the year of education. 

Margvelashvili said he shared the Georgian Dream Government’s view that the country required a fundamental educational reform, as only an educated generation could take the country from where it's currently at and transform it "from an independent county into a free, advanced European state”. 

"Only an educated individual can achieve inner, social and political freedoms," President Margvelashvili noted.