Ruling party official says Parliament will form within deadlines even if President “violates Constitution” by not convening first session

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said if President Salome Zourabichvili “violates the Constitution” by refusing to convene the first session of the newly elected Parliament, the legislative body would still gather within the deadlines set by the country’s supreme law.

Mdinaradze’s comments came after Zourabichvili on Tuesday filed a complaint to the Constitutional Court of the country on alleged violations of the secrecy of ballot and universality of voting during the parliamentary elections held last month.

In his response, Mdinaradze said  the first session of the newly elected Parliament would be held “in accordance with the Constitution” no later than 10 days after the official announcement of the election results. The results were announced on Sunday.

With her submission to the Court, Zourabichvili on Monday claimed the elections had “failed”, while also noting “none of Georgia’s main democratic partners” had recognised its results, claiming the country was “facing an economic and financial crisis”.