Officials: Constitutional Amendment to Cut Presidential Powers

The President will initiate draft of constitutional amendments that would envisage cutting of the presidential powers in favor of the Parliament, MP Akaki Minashvili of the ruling party and the government’s parliamentary secretary, Gia Khuroshvili, said.

They, however, also said that the draft still needed to be finalized and details were expected to be unveiled next week.

President Saakashvili said in his annual state of the nation address in September that he would propose constitutional amendments envisaging increasing of the parliamentary powers.

According to the current constitution the President has right to dissolve the Parliament, in case the legislative body fails to pass the state budget after three attempts or refuses to give confidence vote to the new cabinet after three attempts. The President, however, can not resort to his right of dissolving the Parliament within six months after the parliamentary elections; during the martial or emergency situation; within last six months of the presidential term and if a President’s impeachment procedures are underway in the Parliament.

Under the current constitution the Parliament has the right to demand sacking of the cabinet, but the demand is not binding for the President and he has powers either to dismiss the cabinet or dissolve the parliament.

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