The ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party has filed a constitutional submission along with a written demand of 80 deputies from the majority to launch impeachment proceedings against Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in the Constitutional Court, Ednews reports referring to Sputnik-Georgia.
Earlier on September 11, the parliamentary committee on procedural issues and rules confirmed the authenticity of the signatures of the majority deputies. According to the chairman of the committee, Irakli Kadagishvili, all documentation related to the constitutional submission, all formalities provided for by law, have already been completed in parliament.
“This submission has already been sent to the Constitutional Court. Registration will probably take place there, and then there will be a discussion within one month. Impeachment is the process that allows this issue to be resolved legally,” Kadagishvili said.
The ruling party announced the launch of impeachment proceedings against Zurabishvili after she began a foreign tour on August 31 without government approval. “Dream” stated that Zurabishvili acts in concert with the “radical opposition” and only interferes with Georgia’s European integration, while the presidential administration stated the opposite.
If the Constitutional Court confirms the president's violation of the Constitution, within 10 days the parliament will begin to consider the court's conclusion. Then, within 30 days, a decision must be made to put the issue to a vote. The issue will be put to a vote if there is support from the majority of deputies, the law “On Impeachment” states.
Without the support of the opposition, the parliamentary majority, represented by the Georgian Dream and members of the People's Power movement, will not be able to complete the impeachment procedure, since at least 100 votes are needed, and the majority currently has only 83 mandates.
The ruling party accused Zurabishvili of violating Article 52 of the Georgian Constitution, according to which the president has the right to exercise representative functions in foreign relations only with the permission of the government.