President postpones Security Council meeting
By Tea Mariamidze
Tuesday, July 22
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili held a special press conference following the cabinet reshuffle voiced by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on July 21. The president highlighted that it is the right time for him to carry out the arbitrary duties granted to him based on the new constitution. He also informed that the sitting of the Security Council would be postponed.
Margvelashvili stated that he was not involved in the process of dismissal and will not take part in selecting the new staff as well.
“My duty is to ask the parliament whether they trust the cabinet of ministers again or not. It is my duty,” the president said, explaining that through the new constitution, particular ministers cannot be approved by parliament.
“Seven ministers out of 20 have been changed. After the elections, parliament expressed its trust to the 20 ministers. After selecting the new ministers, my duty is to ask the legislative body whether they trust the whole cabinet,” Margvelashvili said.
The president admitted that he does not know who will take the vacant posts. He also refrained from making a comment on how just the PM’s decision was.
President Margvelashvili informed the media regarding a Security Council meeting that should have taken place this week.
Margvealshvili stated that despite the fact the Security Council Member ministers are not in the list of reshuffled, the meeting would be postponed.
“All the ministers will have to participate and give speeches to the parliament, when I ask the above mentioned question to MPs. Thus, I will not place an additional burden on them and make them free from the sitting. The meeting will be scheduled as soon as the new cabinet is confirmed or rejected,” Margvelashvili said.
The president promised that he would make longer statements regarding the issue and express his own attitude over the reshuffle in the near future.
