Citizens opposition party MP to be nominated for Public Defender

Elisashvili said Ioseliani had the “skills, knowledge and ability to get 90 votes and more [in the election process for the position]”, adding the nominee was a “person who can build a consensus”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia

Agenda.ge, 28 Feb 2023 - 15:21, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Citizens opposition party will nominate one of its leaders Levan Ioseliani for the position of the new Public Defender of Georgia, the party revealed on Tuesday.

Party MP Aleko Elisashvili said the election of the Public Defender “by consensus” between the ruling party and the opposition was “important”, pointing out the task was also a part of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.

Our party has made a very difficult decision for me, but I am deeply convinced that it is the correct one for the country. Even in this Parliament, there are only a few people - or maybe only one - around whom consensus is possible”, he said in comments on the decision.

Elisashvili said Ioseliani had the “skills, knowledge and ability to get 90 votes and more [in the election process for the position]”, adding the nominee was a “person who can build a consensus”.

The position of the Public Defender has become vacant after the term of Nino Lomjaria expired in December.

Selection of an “unbiased” Public Defender to replace her is one of the 12 conditions outlined by the EU for granting Georgia the membership candidate status. 

The approval will require at least 90 votes in the 150-member Parliament, which means the ruling party - which currently has 75 MPs - and the opposition need to cooperate for the selection.