Parliament Speaker claims President will “go down in history as violator” of Georgian, German constitutions

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili would “go down in history as a violator” of the constitutions of Georgia and Germany, in comments that came after Zourabichvili, on Sunday held a campaign meeting with Georgian citizens living in Germany.

Papuashvili’s comment came in reference to the requirement of the German Government’s permission for foreign politicians to hold events that can be regarded as election campaigning, with some cases of such events being prohibited altogether.

The Constitutional Court of Georgia last year concluded Zourabichvili had violated the country’s Constitution through her visits to Europe in late August and September without the Government's authorisation.

“I, as the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, can say that Salome Zourabichvili had violated the Constitution of Georgia, now I know that she may have also violated the German Constitution and legislation”, the Speaker claimed.

He further questioned the position of the German Government over the issue, adding there were “certain restrictions over election campaigning” on German soil by foreign nationals.