PM says ruling party’s motion to impeach President over “constitutional violation” “justified”
In his remarks over the matter, Garibashvili noted the country’s constitution established that “the foreign policy is carried out by the Government”. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to initiate an impeachment procedure against President Salome Zourabichvili over her alleged violation of the constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation was “completely justified”.
In his remarks over the matter, Garibashvili noted the country’s constitution established that “the foreign policy is carried out by the Government”.
Unfortunately, the President did not take into account the refusal [of her request for foreign visits] by the Government, and she demonstratively violated the constitution. The constitution explains that the foreign policy is carried out by the Government of Georgia - if the Government grants the President [this power], only in that case can she fulfil this power”, he said.
The PM also noted comments by Zourabichvili earlier this year that said the Government was failing to fulfil its obligations to meet the recommendations set by the European Commission for granting the country the European Union membership candidate status.
She also said the most disturbing thing - that Georgia did not deserve the [EU] candidate status last year. After that, of course, we do not need any more evidence for [her] credibility to be simply lost. We had no [other] motivation [for the impeachment move] - it would be unfair for me to delegate some powers to her”, he continued.
Garibashvili further lamented the alleged “demonstrative” violation of the constitution and said “at this time, we must lead by example”.
The 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.
However, the President on Thursday departed for a visit to Germany anyway, as her Administration said she was starting a series of meetings with European leaders to garner support for Georgia to be granted EU membership candidate status.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Monday accused the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili of having “deliberately violated” the constitution through her departure on official visits abroad without the Government's consent, and said the impeachment procedure initiated by the ruling Georgian Dream party against her should be viewed “more rationally and with less emotion”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday said violation of the Georgian constitution by the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili, the “person who should be the main guarantor of the constitution”, could not be left without a reaction.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday highlighted “the need to respect” the country’s constitution in what he called its “clear violation” by President Salome Zourabichvili through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said the Political Council of the party had decided to initiate an impeachment procedure against President Salome Zourabichvili over her “gross violation” of the constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation.
The work for gaining the European Union membership candidate status for Georgia, the country’s future and regional matters were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Thursday said the series of foreign visits to European cities aimed to fulfil her “highest and foremost” obligation as President - to promote the country's European integration.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday said the impeachment procedure against the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, launched by the Government last week over her alleged violation of the constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation, was the “only way” to respond to "violations of specific articles of the constitution".
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Tuesday said the ruling team was “forced” to initiate the impeachment procedure against the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili over her alleged violation of the constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation.
The Georgian Constitutional Court on Tuesday launched its substantive consideration of the lawsuit against the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili over her alleged violation of the Constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the impeachment procedure launched by the Government against President Salome Zourabichvili meant she was “no longer considered worthy” of the presidency, and further pointed out the “ultimate goal” of the process was to remove her from office.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said President Salome Zourabichvili’s appearance at the Parliament with Andriy Kasyanov, the former charge d'affaires of Ukraine to Georgia, in March 2022 for her annual report, without notifying the body’s Speaker, had marked a “serious difference” between the positions of the Government and the President and was “disrespectful” to the country’s Constitution.