Georgian Parliament Speaker: “Constitutional reform aligns Georgia with Europe”

Georgia has never been closer to European standards and to the EU than today, and we continue our hard work to become a full member of the European family, says Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze.

Today, EUobserver, a Brussels-based independent online newspaper reporting on the EU, published an opinion piece by Speaker Kobakhidze, describing the constitutional reform of Georgia.

In the piece, Kobakhidze says that the ongoing constitutional reform "aligns Georgia with Europe”.

"The proposed constitutional adjustment will create a European parliamentary democracy. It will strengthen parliament and delineate the responsibilities assigned to the various branches of government clearly”, he writes.

[Opinion] Constitutional reform aligns Georgia with #Europehttps://t.co/rsviLaxyKg

— EUobserver (@euobs) October 25, 2017

He adds that the changes will include the introduction of an exclusive proportional electoral system, which will divert any threat of a too-powerful presidency in the long term and diminish political polarisation and radicalisation.

Changes will also contribute to institutionalising party politics and enhancing political dialogue, Kobakhidze says. He adds that these changes will strengthen legislative oversight and instill higher standards of government integrity, independence of the courts, improved tax collection, and more effective policing.

The Georgian parliament Speaker says that the EU is busy with its internal agenda, especially at a time when Brexit is absorbing much institutional energy, yet Georgia remains committed to this path.

"We look forward to the reward of our citizens' efforts with unambiguous commitments and progressive steps towards deeper political and practical integration”, says Kobakhidze.

• Read the full article here.