Opposition MPs Protest against President’s Annual Address Format

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze confirmed on Tuesday that President Saakashvili will give his third state of the nation address to the Parliament afternoon on March 15.

“He will speak about what we have already achieved and also about his vision for future policies,” Burjanadze told lawmakers at the session on March 13.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers expressed their disappointment that the President has decided not to field questions following the speech.

“It is very sad that the President has rejected the tradition of listening to the opposition’s response to his address… I think the President should, at least once in a year, listen publicly to dissenting opinions. Unfortunately, the President shuns public dialogue with the opposition. Dialogue only behind closed doors is not enough,” MP Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of the opposition New Rights Party, said.

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said in response that the President will listen to “the opposition’s critical remarks on TV.”

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