Parliament approves Manana Kobakhidze as Constitutional Court judge

Majority Member of Parliament Manana Kobakhidze has been approved as a new judge of the Constitutional Court of Georgia.

Parliament approved Kobakhidze’s candidacy with 101 votes in favour and 10 against a short time ago. Her confirmation as a judge means her mandate as a Member of Parliament has been annulled.

Opposition members of parliament were against Kobakhidze’s candidacy, saying she would be unable to maintain neutrality as a judge and would always favour the Georgian Dream government as she has been a member in this party’s ranks for years.

In response to these allegations Kobakhidze said today:

"From this moment, I will be fully accountable only to society and I will be in service of the constitutional order and human rights. Accordingly, all political ties already belong to the past”.

The judiciary, executive and legislative branches of the state all participate in the composition of the Constitutional Court, which is composed of eight judges and a chairperson on equal footing:

• 3 members are appointed by the President of Georgia
• 3 members are elected by the Parliament by not less than three-fifths of the 150-seat legislative body
• 3 members are appointed by the Supreme Court

Once a Constitutional Court judge is approved, they serve for a 10-year term.