Some PM's post-election plans
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, October 31
Georgia’s Prime Minister says the ruling team does not plan to move Parliament from the western city of Kutaisi to Tbilisi if the Georgian Dream party wins a constitutional majority in the new Parliament.
Kvirikashvili made his remarks to Imedi TV in response to the opposition’s speculations that if the ruling party wins a constitutional majority (at least 100 members in the 150 –seat legislative body) it will bring “unacceptable” changes in the county’s main laws.
Introducing changes in the constitution about the location of Parliament and its functions can only be possible in case of support of the constitutional majority of the legislative body.
“We don’t plan such a change for several years at least. If we do decide to move Parliament from Kutaisi to Tbilisi this will take place only after active discussions with Kutaisi's residents,” the PM said.
Kvirikashvili stressed that Parliament’s committee meetings were already conducted in Tbilisi and he saw no problem in holding plenary sessions in Kutaisi.
The PM also commented on the marriage issue, which also required constitutional majority.
The PM stressed that he supported the idea of marriage as being “a union of only a man and a woman” to be written in the Georgian Construction.
The PM excluded the notion that writing such a definition into the Constitution could potentially violate the right of sexual minorities, as such a note was reflected in the constitutions of many developed countries, including in the United States.
Kvirikashvili stated he has already held consultations with many of his European colleagues and experts, who confirmed none of the European conventions said such a note could mean the violation of human rights.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili also said he does not approve of the large-scale merger of ministries, as the process could slow the dynamic and fast development of Georgia.
Meanwhile, the PM announced an alleged merger of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for Diaspora Issues, as well as the changing of “two or three ministers.”
“First of all I want to say that the electoral process is not completed in Georgia and consultations over the issue will be held with the new majority in Parliament,” he said.
“It’s my personal view that a large-scale merger of the ministries isn’t necessary at this stage; it is my wish to avoid turbulence and not to slow down the fast dynamic of the state development,” the PM said.
However, Kvirikashvili stated there will “of course be structural changes within the existing ministries, and a very conservative approach would be established towards administrative expenses”.
