Georgian president found guilty of violating constitution
- 16 October, 01:40
Parliament in Georgia will vote on impeaching President Salome Zurabishvili after the Constitutional Court found her guilty of violating the country’s constitution.
The court ruled that Zurabishvili violated the Georgian Constitution by paying official visits abroad in August and September, despite the government’s refusal to grant her official permission to do so. The country’s constitution stipulates that the president’s officials foreign visits be authorized by the government. Constitutional court president Merab Turava stated on Monday that the decision could not be appealed or revised.
The final vote on impeaching Zurabishvili would be held in parliament this week, Ruling party chair Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Friday.
“A majority of the MPs elected by the Georgian people in 2020 will confirm that Salome Zurabishvili is no longer worthy to hold the high office of the President of Georgia”, said Kobakhidze.
Discussions over impeachment against Zurabishvili came after she paid official visits to a number of European countries, including to Germany, France, and Belgium in September, without the government’s authorization. The discussions held with these countries’ leaders were focused around Georgia’s EU membership candidacy.
The European Union will make a decision on Georgia’s EM membership status in November.
