Opposition Pushes for Constitutional Changes

In a joint statement issued on June 5 the opposition parliamentarians called for the creation of a strong system of checks and balances with an effective division of powers through the adoption of constitutional amendments.

The statement was issued following a meeting with Public Defender Sozar Subari, whose human rights report – which criticizes police violence and abuse of inmates in the prison system – was hailed by the opposition lawmakers on June 5.

The opposition claims that the current Interior Ministry, which also incorporates the security service, has too much power and should be reformed. The opposition is also pushing for the creation of a municipal police under the subordination of local self-governance bodies.

MP Koka Guntsadze of the New Rights opposition party told the Georgian daily Rezonansi that an increase of the Parliament?s authority at the expense of reducing the President?s power is also essential for the creation of a system of checks and balances.

The Constitutional changes adopted in February 2004 ? shortly after Mikheil Saakashvili became President – increased the powers of the President.

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said in February, 2004, that the changes were ?not ideal.? But officials have reasoned that the amendments were urgent to immediately address problems which persisted in the country following the 2003 Rose Revolution.

Nino Burjanadze said at that time that the new constitution was ?transitional? which would serve for ?some five or seven years.?

The parliamentary majority, which consists of members from the ruling National Movement party, has already downplayed the opposition?s calls for constitutional amendments.

?Their [the opposition?s] demands to change the current Constitution has nothing in common with the current reality,? MP Givi Targamadze, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security, told Rezonansi.

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