Ruling Party Reshuffles Local Authorities

Several heads of provincial districts and chairmen of Sakrebulos (local councils) have filed for resignation at the demand of ruling National Movement party leaders who have accused some of the local officials of misuse of office, the Georgian media sources reported on January 29.

Bakur Balanchivadze, Mayor of Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia, is among the officials who have resigned.

?The mayor took into consideration the position of the President and the position of the ruling party and made this very correct decision,? Akaki Bobokhidze, Governor of the Imereti region where Kutaisi is located, said.

The ruling party officials recently criticized Balanchivadze for spending USD 48 000 for the procurement of a car for the municipality.

The chairmen of Sakrebulos in Telavi, Oni, Tskaltubo, Khoni and Samtredia also filed for resignation on January 29.

The ruling National Movement party has majority seats in all the Sakrebulos throughout Georgia as a result of a landslide victory in the October 2006 local elections.

At a meeting with ruling party officials and regional governors on January 27, President Saakashvili announced that there have been cases of misuse of state funds by the local officials.

He instructed Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Mikheil Machavariani to develop a draft law that will envisage the investment of at least 50% of the funds transferred to local self-governance bodies from the state budget into social programs.

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