President to MPs: European state “can only be based on” democratic principles”
In comments during her annual report to the lawmaking body, Zourabichvili said “Europe means prosperity”, but added “wealth in itself is nothing” unless it implied “universal prosperity”. Photo: Presidential Administration
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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday told the country’s Parliament a European state could “not be based on anything other than democratic principles”, with protected rights for citizens.
In comments during her annual report to the lawmaking body, Zourabichvili said “Europe means prosperity”, but added “wealth in itself is nothing” unless it implied “universal prosperity”.
She stressed prosperity was “for everyone and not a monopoly for a privileged few”.
A European state cannot be based on anything other than democratic principles, according to which citizens have a number of protected rights”, she told MPs.
The President also noted that Georgia had “secured its future place in the European family” in 2023, in reference to the European Union membership candidate status granted to it by the European Council in December.
The task for 2024 is clear. Our future is in our hands, which requires the greatest responsibility from us. We are given a truly unique chance not only to formally join the European space, but also to establish Europeanness in us, to transform the post-Soviet country into a living, successful, strong, European and democratic state”, Zourabichvili noted.
She added that now it was time to make the past a thing of the past and pave the way for a new Georgia, and further pointed out that “this is our European way, therefore, the national way”.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili will on Tuesday submit her annual report to the Parliament. It will be Zourabichvili’s final report in her capacity, as her Presidential term ends in October.
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili told the Georgian Parliament on Monday she did not plan to consider the issue of pardoning the imprisoned ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili will present her annual report to the Georgian Parliament today, with MPs saying they expect her address to focus primarily on the situation in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion and the importance of consolidation on the Georgian political scene around the matter.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday denied intentions to pardon the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili or the recently imprisoned Director General of Mtavari Arkhi channel Nika Gvaramia.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the Georgian Prime Minister’s post, on Tuesday labelled President Salome Zourabichvili’s annual report to the Parliament as “underwhelming”, and claimed her address had “confirmed suspicions” about her intention to resign and establish a “pseudo-centrist political faction” ahead of October’s general elections.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Tuesday said the ruling Georgian Dream party was “ready” to “single-handedly” meet the nine priorities outlined by the European Union for opening accession talks with the country.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Tuesday labelled Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili's annual address before the Parliament a “speech of an ordinary oppositionist”.
Mikheil Saakashvili, the imprisoned former President of Georgia, on Friday said the platform for “European unity” in the domestic political scene, initiated by President Salome Zourabichvili this week, was “welcome”.