Georgian PM Postpones His Annual Report in Parliament
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, June 28
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze did not deliver his scheduled annual report to the Parliament on June 27.
The postponement of the annual speech is a violation of the rules of the legislative body. Under the new regulations of the Parliament, the Prime Minister is obliged to deliver an annual report to the legislative body in the last month of the spring session – in June.
Upon the decision of the Parliament’s Bureau, PM Bakhtadze had to appear before the lawmakers on June 27.
The PM explained that the postponement of the speech is connected to the recent developments is the country, which followed the appearance of the Russian parliamentarians in Tbilisi Parliament last week, sparking large-scale protests.
“I believe that speaking about the government program, taking the current situation of the country into account, would not be in line with the public interest,” Bakhtadze wrote.
He said that he is ready to present the report in the future, anytime, during the extraordinary session.
Bakhtadze noted that instead of going to the Parliament on Thursday, he would meet the media representatives and answer their questions regarding the recent developments.
The postponement of the PM’s speech was also confirmed by the Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze, who said that the current situation in the country does not give the possibility to discuss the report thoroughly.
“It is clear for everyone that it would be impossible to conduct a proper discussion of the government’s program in the parliament in the current situation. Our desire is to give both - the majority and the opposition the opportunity to take full-scale participation in the discussion of this report," said Talakvadze.
He added that consultations on defining the date are underway and Mamuka Bakhtadze will likely appear before the lawmakers within the extraordinary session of the legislative body.
Opposition members criticized the PM for not appearing in the Parliament. They said that they need answers about the recent developments.
European Georgia member, David Bakradze said the PM is hiding in order to avoid answering questions the MPs have.
He also said that Bakhtadze’s behavior underlines that he and his government cannot say when the people, who dispersed June 20-21 demonstrations, will be punished, and the Interior Minister dismissed.
“They have to be responsible for this crime and hiding or avoiding coming to the Parliament will not change anything,” said Bakradze.
Large-scale protests started in Tbilisi after arrival of the Russian MPs in Tbilisi parliament while attending the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) on June 20.
The opposition MPs and the protesters did not allow the IAO session to continue. Later, a decision was taken to wrap up the session and for the Russian delegation to leave the country. During the riots, 240 people were injured, more than 300 were detained.
