Abkhaz Leader Offers to Scrap Vice-President Post

Abkhaz leader, Alexander Ankvab, proposed to the breakaway region’s parliament on January 31 a draft of constitutional amendment envisaging scrapping of vice-president’s post, Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported.

Under the Abkhaz constitution vice-president is elected together with the president and is the first in presidential line of succession, followed by prime minister and parliament speaker. Mikhail Logua, who was Ankvab’s vice-presidential running mate in 2011 election, filed for resignation citing health reasons in December.

Apsnipress reported quoting Abkhaz leader’s parliamentary secretary, Dmitri Shamba, that “shortcoming” of vice-president’s office, especially in countries where prime minister’s post is also in place, involves absence of clearly defined duties of vice-president. He said that although the vice-president is formally a second highest official, in fact the office holder has limited powers, even less than PM or parliament speaker.

The vice-president’s post gained some importance nine years ago after it was taken by Raul Khajimba, now opposition lawmaker, as a result of power-sharing agreement between him and late Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh following a fiercely disputed presidential election in 2004.

Abkhaz leader, Alexander Ankvab, held the vice-president’s post in 2010-2011.

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