The Constitutional Court found that by meeting with the leaders of the EU countries without the government’s consent, President Salome Zourabichvili violated the Constitution of Georgia.
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Judges Merab Turava, Eva Gotsiridze, Giorgi Tevdorashvili, Khvicha Kikilashvili, Manana Kobakhidze, and Vasil Roinishvili supported the decision, while Irine Imerlishvili, Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze and Teimuraz Tughushi dissented.
The consent of 6 out of 9 judges was needed to establish a violation of the Constitution by the President.
‘‘On August 31, 2023, during her foreign visits on September 1 through 6, the President of Georgia exercised her representative authority in foreign relations without the consent of the Government, thereby violating the provisions of Article 52, Article 1, Subsection ‘A’ of the Constitution of Georgia. The court rules that this was a violation of the Constitution.
The verdict is valid from the moment it is published on the website of the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The decision is final and not subject to appeal or revision. The dissenting opinion of the judges Irine Imerlishvili, Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze, and Teimuraz Tughushi to be attached to the conclusion,’’ stated Merab Turava, Chairman of the Constitutional Court.
According to the statement by the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, the vote on the issue of impeachment of the President will be held in the parliament this week.
‘‘Today, the Constitutional Court of Georgia confirmed the simple truth that Salome Zourabichvili deliberately, grossly, and repeatedly violated the Constitution of Georgia, thereby blatantly opposing the constitutional order and the system of parliamentary governance established by the Constitution.
Salome Zourabichvili betrayed the Constitution of Georgia and the oath sworn to the Constitution.
Had Salome Zourabichvili retained a modicum of dignity, she would immediately step down from the presidency after the Constitutional Court found the violation of the Constitution.
We understand that Zourabichvili violated the Constitution of Georgia in hopes of support from the collective National Movement, and there is practically no chance of gathering 100 votes. However, we hope that at least some opposition MPs will have enough patriotism or professional dignity not to leave Salome Zourabichvili’s gross violation of the Constitution unpunished.
As for the President, she will only formally be considered the President of Georgia from now on. In the final, sixth year of her presidency, she will be completely deprived of political and moral legitimacy and remain, to borrow American terminology, a so-called lame goat, chasing the collective National Movement heading towards the abyss,’’ said Kobakhidze.
100 MP’s votes are needed to unseat the President, which the Georgian Dream comes short of. Part of the parliamentary opposition opposes the impeachment of the president and considers it a sabotage and an artificial obstacle to the country’s European integration.
