Crisis in neighbors: the president can be impeached

Georgia’s Constitutional Court concluded that President Salome Zurabishvili, who traveled abroad without government approval, “violated the constitution.”

Constitutional Court President Merab Turava said in his statement that the government began impeachment proceedings against Zurabishvili in September and asked the court for an opinion. Turava stated that President Zurabishvili maintained contacts abroad on August 31, September 1 and September 6 without the approval of the government (prime minister).

Turava stressed that it is unconstitutional for Zurabishvili to travel abroad without government approval and stated that 6 out of a total of 9 people found Zurabishvili guilty of “violating the constitution.”

The Georgian Parliament will meet and decide on the impeachment process within two weeks.

THE EUROPEAN VISITS PROVOKED REACTIONS

In his statement on September 1, the chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Irakli Kobakhidze, reacted to President Zurabishvili’s visit to European countries at the end of August.

Kobakhidze stated that, according to the Constitution, the president does not have the right to direct foreign policy without coordinating with the government. Arguing that the president violated the constitution, Kobakhidze announced that they would begin impeachment proceedings against the president.

President Zurabishvili reacted to the government’s move to begin the impeachment process on September 7, saying: “I’m not going anywhere. “I think everyone should forget the dream of me resigning,” he said.

According to the constitution, the support of 100 deputies in the 150-person parliament is required to complete the impeachment process against Georgia’s president. The ruling Georgian Dream Party, which has 84 seats in parliament, will also need support from opposition parties. (AA)