Thursday, January 10 2013

Tbilisi The first joint sitting of two commissions on
nation-wide discussion of the amendments to the Constitution of Georgia is
being held in Tbilisi House of Justice on Wednesday, January 9.

               Both
commissions, comprising representatives of the legislative body and a civil
sector,  were formed after the
parliamentary elections on October 1, 2012, as a result of which the Georgian
Dream coalition became a ruling force.     

               The
commissions  on nation-wide discussion of
changes to the Constitution of Georgia consider two packets of amendments. One
of them concerns location  of the
Georgian parliament. During many years the legislative body held its sittings
in Tbilisi, but in autumn of the last year it was transferred to Kutaisi in
accordance with the amendments, passed in spring 2012. Now the initiative of
cancellation of the last decision is discussed.      

The second packet of constitutional
amendments concerns powers of President of Georgia. The packet envisages
provision of President with a right to dissolve the parliament at any time,
including  during six months after
parliamentary elections and half a year before presidential powers expire that
is prohibited by the acting version of the Constitution. At the same time,
pursuant  proposed changes, President
will have no right to dismiss the government of the country without the parliament's
consent and maintain the Cabinet of Ministers, appointed by him (for indefinite
period of time), if it is not approved by the parliament.

According to the legislation, the
commissions should consider both packets of amendments together with representatives
of the public, the non-governmental sector of the  country, international organizations within a
month and after it submit both bills to the legislative body of the country.
Two third of the parliament's nominal list are required to approve the amendments
to the Constitution.