Georgia moves to restrict Presidential powers
President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed the new Constitution of Georgia, the final version of which was adopted by the parliament a few days ago.
"Unfortunately, the parliament adopted a one-party Constitution, so it is extremely difficult for me to sign it, however, taking into account the internal and external challenges the country is facing, the responsibility to avoid possible destabilization, I, as the Head of State, Supreme Commander-in-Chief and guarantor of the Constitution, sign this document," Margvelashvili said at the briefing.
The Parliament of Georgia passed a new constitution in September this year that ensures the transition of the State to Parliamentary system of government and substantially limits the rights and powers of the President.
All opposition forces argued against the adoption of this Constitution, and President Margvelashvili vetoed the adopted Constitution. However, the Parliament, in which the Georgian Dream party has a majority, overrode the veto.
The main amendments to the Constitution, against which the president and the opposition spoke, are the delay of four years for elections in accordance with a proportional representation system and a change in the procedure for electing the President, not by direct voting, but by appointed electors.
According to the current Georgian legislation, if the President did not sign the adopted Constitution, the Chairman of the Parliament would sign it.
Giorgi Margvelashvili won the nationwide Presidential election in 2013.