Impeachment procedure aims to “limit” President’s activity, “harass” her politically – Zourabichvili’s Parliamentary Secretary

Giorgi Mskhiladze, the Parliamentary Secretary of the President, on Tuesday responded to the ruling Georgian Dream party’s announcement about the launch of impeachment procedure  against Salome Zourabichvili for her EU trip without the Government’s consent, and claimed the move could serve the only purpose – “to limit her activities or harass her politically”. 

 

“The President is acting in line with the will of the Georgian people, her election promise to serve the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration”, he said. 

 

The ruling party accused Zourabichvili last week of violating the country’s constitution by visiting Europe after her trips to Germany, Ukraine, Poland and seven other countries had been rejected by the Government. 

 

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday claimed the impeachment had been “justified”, adding the Government had lost “credibility” in her after Zourabichvili said earlier this year that Georgia “did not deserve” the EU candidate status last year, and that the country was “only formally” fulfilling the candidacy conditions. 

 

In her latest speech Zourabichvili accused the Government of “demonizing” the West over the past two years, and taking “no genuine” steps for the country’s EU integration. 

 

The President’s Office claimed Zourabichvili’s EU trip aimed at supporting the country’s obtaining the bloc’s membership candidate status later this year. 

 

The President’s dismissal needs at least 100 votes in the 150-member Parliament – which the ruling party does not have – if the country’s Constitutional Court says she really violated the country’s main law after an address by at least 50 MPs to discuss the issue.