President of Georgia to present his annual report to Parliament tomorrow
By Tea Mariamidze
Tuesday, February 2
“The President’s annual report will cover the most important issues of the year and it will be presented on February 3, on the first day of Parliament’s spring session,” the President’s Parliamentary Secretary Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze told the reporters.
According to the Secretary, the format of the report is unknown. However, the content is determined by the Constitution.
"He will touch upon the most important state issues, especially those concerned with domestic or foreign policies,” Kverenchkhiladze noted.
This will be President Margvelashvili’s third annual report and it will be presented in the Kutaisi Parliament building at 14:00, on February 3.
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, will attend the President’s annual report, in contrast to his predecessor; Irakli Garibashvili’s lack of attendance at presidential addresses did nothing to resolve the tension between the office of the Prime Minister and the President.
According to the PM’s office, Kvirikashvili wishes to heal the rift between the two branches of the government.
“The PM has stated several times that it is necessary to move the Georgian political discourse onto a constructive path, wherein debates and discussions will be held on substantial issues, not on petty formalities,” the information spread by the PM’s Office says.
The regulations of Parliament imply two types of format of the President’s annual report: a presentation, after which the chairs of the various factions will voice their opinions, and debates, in which anyone can give a speech.
According to a member of the majority, Eka Beselia, the main political team will hold a meeting and decide which format of the report is preferable for the MPs.
“Last year we decided to focus on the content of the report, which would be interesting for Parliament and for the population. I think we will do the same this year, but let's see what the political groups can agree on,” said Beselia.
The Free Democrats opposition party believethat the report should be held in the format of a debate.
“First, we should listen to the President’s report itself; that should then be followed by speeches from representatives of different factions, who will voice their support for the content of the report or not. We believe that the debate format is necessary in order to let every political force express their position,” Free Democrat’s member Zurab Abashidze stated.
However, according to the majority MP Gia Volski, the format of the debates will provoke “emotions and political speculations.”
It should be noted that unlike the previous year, nearly all the members of the majority are likely to attend the President’s annual report.
