EU Ambassador Herczynski Emphasizes Importance of State Institution Independence, Warns of Increased Polarization Over President's Impeachment
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
H.E. Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, participated in a meeting at the National Bank of Georgia. Following the meeting, he emphasized the significance of state institutions' independence, with a particular focus on the National Bank. This emphasis aligns with one of the 12 recommendations issued by the EU as part of Georgia's candidacy status evaluation, and the report assessing these recommendations is set to be published in a month.
"Today, at the meeting, I expressed the European Union's very strong attitude toward the independence of the National Bank of Georgia - stronger independent state institutions are one of the 12 priorities.
Especially now, one month before the publication of the first report on enlargement, it is crucial that all state institutions in Georgia, and especially the National Bank, remain fully independent.
Therefore, of course, we are interested in the current situation. We, as the European Union, want Georgia - hopefully our future member - to have a very strong and independent national bank," EU Ambassador said.
Herczynski also commented on Otar Partskhaladze and expressed hope that the relevant authorities in Georgia will conduct an investigation and determine whether he is guilty.
Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia also assessed the impeachment procedure initiated by the 'Georgian Dream' against Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and stated that it will not help depolarization and, on the contrary, will cause polarization.
"The issue should be decided by the Constitutional Court. However, I can only repeat the words of the EU High Representative that this impeachment procedure will, unfortunately, not contribute to depolarization; on the contrary, it will lead to polarization. I can tell you that I attended Salome Zourabichvili's speech in the European Parliament, and I personally witnessed her sincere request to the members of the European Parliament regarding the acceptance of candidate status for Georgia.
This is not an issue on which I can comment. In the future, the decision depends on the Constitutional Court. Nevertheless, I can repeat the words of Joseph Borell, who stated that the impeachment procedure against the president will not help in depolarizing the political spectrum of Georgia," the Ambassador said.
