Parliamentary Minority to Fill Posts

The parliamentary minority, involving one newly established 12-member faction, has nominated MP Levan Vepkhvadze of the Christian-Democratic Party for the parliamentary vice-speaker position.

Opposition lawmakers can take three vice-speaker posts. MP Paata Davitaia, leader of On Our Own party, who was elected on the opposition coalition’s ticket, is expected to be nominated for one of them. It, however, is expected no to happen until after a constitutional amendment is passed to reduce the threshold for setting up a parliamentary faction from the current seven to six MPs. Once this happens, it is expected the 12-member faction will split into two separate factions.

The new faction’s members will also take the posts of deputy chairmen of parliamentary committees.

MP Davitaia will be nominated for the position of deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee for foreign relations.

Another member of On Our Own party, Dimitri Lortkipanidze, will become deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee for human rights.

MP Gia Tsagareishvili will be nominated as deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee for legal issues.

MP Nika Laliashvili of the Christian-Democratic Party is expected to be nominated as deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee for defense and security.

Magda Anikashvili of the Christian-Democratic Party will be nominated as deputy chairman of the committee for healthcare.

Giorgi Akhvlediani also from the Christian-Democrat Party – deputy chairman of the committee on education, science and culture.

Giorgi Targamadze the chairman of the Christian-Democratic Party will become the leader of the parliamentary minority.