Opposition fails to summon Tbilisi Mayor to City Hall
By Tatia Megeneishvili
Wednesday, March 11
The Tbilisi City Hall (Sakrebulo) has failed to summon Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania. City Hall would like him to answer questions regarding the recent reshuffle and corruption-related issues in his office.
The summoning of the mayor was initiated by City Hall independent party member Aleko Elisashvili on March 9. The request had immediately been supported by the opposition United National Movement (UNM).
Elisashvili only needed three more votes from the Free Democrats. However, head of the Free Democrats in City Hall Giorgi Muskhelishvili, stated that they would not support the initiative.
“We also have questions for Narmania, but we want to hold healthy discussions over the problems and not stage a show,” stated Muskhelishvili.
The Free Democrats decision was viewed as a “failed test” by the UNM.
Member of UNM Irakli Abesadze accused the Free Democrats of being in alliance with the majority.
“We all know that there is an awful situation at the Mayor’s office, but we have not heard criticism from the Free Democrats concerning the vivid problems. They need to make a decision and decide whether they are part of the opposition or not,” stated Abesadze.
Member of City Hall Tamar Tsintsabidze said that the decision of the Free Democrats represented a lost chance in obtaining crucial information over the issues the public is interested in.
Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania was against the summons. He informed that he would visit the Sakrebulo in the first week of April.
“I cannot accept invitations from different parties right now. I will answer all the questions that the deputies have when I visit City Hall as envisaged by the law,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili intends to meet with the city mayors in the coming days. The topics of the meeting have not been announced yet.
