Georgian PM: President “chose to descend to destructive opposition level”, instead of “openly” supporting Gov’t in EU integration process
Garibashvili said he had discussed this matter with his European colleagues, who had understood the necessity of initiating impeachment, noting the Government had to react to the President’s “direct demonstrative action” of “deliberately violating the country’s Constitution”. Photo via Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said that the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili “has chosen to descend to the level of destructive opposition”, instead of “openly” supporting the Government in the European integration process.
In his comments to the media, Garibashvili told the journalists that the President “was repeating” the radical opposition’s narrative, citing Zourabichvili’s statements, in which she said that the country “did not deserve the European Union membership candidate status” and alleged that the Government “has not been fulfilling the recommendations” outlined by the bloc for granting the status to the country.
Commenting on the ongoing impeachment procedures against Zourabichvili, initiated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, Garibashvili stressed it was “unpleasant” that the ruling team was “forced to take this step”.
The country has much more problems to solve than such an unjustified situation and relations between the President and the Government. But there were no other options left by Zourabichvili who demonstratively and purposefully violated the Constitution”, the PM said, adding it was “an intended provocation” during the process of waiting for candidate status.
Garibashvili said he had discussed this matter with his European colleagues, who had understood the necessity of initiating impeachment, noting the Government had to react to the President’s “direct demonstrative action” of “deliberately violating the country’s Constitution”.
No one in the country is above the law - neither the President, nor the PM, nor the Parliament, or anyone else”, the Head of the Government noted.
He expressed hope the President would realise that the country “has much more important issues” to deal with and added he would “gratefully welcome her [Zourabichvili’s] efforts” if she became the Government’s “supporter” in the European integration process.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to launch impeachment proceedings against President Salome Zourabichvili this week over her alleged violation of the constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation was “not a political issue”.
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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said “the only right and European way out” for the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili “is to admit the violation of the constitution and vow that it will not happen again”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday claimed there was “no connection” between the impeachment procedure initiated against President Salome Zourabichvili by the ruling Georgian Dream party authorities and the country’s aspirations to obtain the European Union membership candidate status later this year.
President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday cancelled her planned visit to Denmark, which had not been authorised by the Government, in a move that follows the Constitutional Court’s ruling earlier this month that said she had violated the Constitution with earlier official foreign trips without approval of the Government, Imedi TV said.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Monday claimed a part of domestic opposition groups and affiliated non-governmental organisations were engaged in “instigating xenophobia on ethnic grounds” amid the presence of Russian citizens in the country on the backdrop of Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Thursday condemned President Salome Zourabichvili’s planned, unauthorised participation in the Munich Security Conference this week, claiming she was being “backed” by the United National Movement opposition party and her actions “harmed” the country’s international image.