EU, civil sector welcome ruling party’s nominee for public defender

EU Ambassador to Georgia Janos Herman and the country’s leading NGOs have welcomed the Georgian Dream ruling party’s decision to name the candidate for the new public defender offered by the civil sector.

The statements came after the Georgian Dream announced they would name Nino Lomjaria, former deputy head of the State Audit Office and an ex-executive director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, as its nominee for ombudsman.

Lomjaria was one out of the four candidates offered by the civil sector to the ruling party.

Herman stated that the public defender’s post is of the "highest importance” and that he welcomed the ruling party’s decision to hold large-scale consultations with the civil sector to name its candidacy.

It is good for state democracy,” Herman said.

Herman welcomed the ruling party's attitude to select a new public defender. 

The aspiration was shared by NGOs, who released a joint statement and said the Georgian Dream acted in the right way.

The United National Movement parliamentary opposition reported they may support Lomjaria.

Much is dependent on the consolations over the nominee and how she will answer lawmakers’ questions in parliament,” Nika Melia from the party stated.

Fellow representative of the European Georgia parliamentary opposition Sergo Ratiani said the party would not vote for the candidate.

Lomjaria served in a state body, as the deputy head of the Audit Office, which is not an advantage for a person  nominated for this very responsible post. She has not been critical of government activities lately,” Ratiani said.

The majority claimed they named an "impartial candidate” for the role, taking the civil sector’s positions into account.

Lomjaria thanked the ruling party and stated she was ready to come to parliament and answer lawmakers’ questions.

Initially Lomjaria must gain the support of the parliament’s Human Rights Committee.

If supported, she will need at least 76 votes in the 150-member legislative body to take the post for the next five years.

Parliament is scheduled to vote for new candidates for ombudsman until December 7 as the current public defender Ucha Nanuashvili’s term expires in early December.

A parliamentary faction or a group of lawmakers composed of six MPs have the right to name candidates for ombudsman.