Ruling party head accuses President of “gross violation” of constitution

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday accused the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili of “gross violation” of the constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without Government authorisation. 

Kobakhidze was commenting after Zourabichvili departed for a visit to Germany on Thursday, after the Government Administration on Wednesday said the Government had rejected approval of her visits to a number of foreign states.

In his reaction, the ruling party official stressed Georgia was a parliamentary republic where the executive power, domestic and foreign policy were carried out only by the Government and added the President was not a part of the executive branch. He said the arrangement meant the President “does not participate in the implementation of foreign policy”.

It is clear that the constitution is being violated very grossly by the President of Georgia. She has taken an oath on this constitution, but she is grossly violating it, which is a very serious development, and we need an appropriate response to this, we cannot leave it without a response”, Kobakhidze said.

He also said impeachment of the President required 100 votes in the Parliament, alleging Zourabichvili was “relying” on the United National Movement opposition party and “guarantees from their patrons” against a successful vote, adding “without this guarantee she would not have violated the constitution”.

The ruling party head claimed Zourabichvili was “opposing the interest of the European integration of the country”, and noted “it does not matter if she makes statements against the European integration in the building of the Parliament of Georgia or during a foreign visit”.

[S]he directly opposed [during her address to the Parliament] our European perspective [granted by the European Council to Georgia last year] - in particular, she said that Georgia did not deserve the status of a[n EU membership] candidate last year, and moreover, she said that this year the reforms provided for in the European Union documents have only formally been implemented [by domestic authorities]. Therefore, it follows that in her opinion, Georgia does not deserve the status of a candidate this year either”, Kobakhidze alleged.

The Georgian Government Administration on Wednesday said the Government had rejected requests by Zourabichvili’s office for approval of her official visits to Germany, Ukraine, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Israel.

Zourabichvili on Thursday met the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as her Administration said the Georgian official was starting a series of meetings with European leaders to garner support for Georgia to be granted the EU membership candidate status.