Court rules President Zourabichvili violated Constitution, approves impeachment vote

The Constitutional Court of Georgia on Monday approved the allegations by the ruling Georgian Dream party against President Salome Zourabichvili and said the latter had violated the country’s Constitution through her recent trip in Europe without the Government’s approval. 

 

By the judgment, the court has allowed an impeachment vote against the President, with the GD in need of at least 100 votes in the 150-member Parliament to dismiss Zourabichvili. 

 

The majority of opposition groups, which hold around 65 seats in the state legislature, claim they will not vote for the impeachment, accusing the Government of “undermining” the country’s European future. 

 

Zourabichvili has dismissed the allegations and claimed her foreign visits aimed at facilitating the country’s receiving the European Union membership candidate status later this year. 

 

The foreign diplomats and EU officials have warned the Georgian authorities the impeachment procedures could harm the country’s EU integration process.