President says Court’s backing her impeachment “killed, or attempted to kill” Georgia’s European future

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Monday reacted to the ruling by the Constitutional Court of Georgia, which approved the allegations by the ruling Georgian Dream party of her violating the country’s Constitution by unauthorized European visits in August and September, and claimed by the “shameful judgment” the Court had “killed, or attempted to kill the country’s European future and its democracy with one stone”. 

 

In her comments Zourabichvili also said she would not make the current Government’s dream “come true” and resign, and urged the opposition to boycott her impeachment vote announced this week. 

 

“I am a bit disappointed by the ruling, although nothing surprises me in this country anymore. I wasn’t really surprised by today’s result, but I was heartbroken for the Constitutional Court, which has remained as one of the places in our legal system where the court still deserved some trust. As of today, this is no longer the case, the Constitutional Court made such a conclusion that it should be ashamed of”, Zourabichvili said. 

 

She also claimed despite the attempts of “domestic forces” Georgia would gain the European Union membership candidate status later this year, and added her goal as the President was to “fight” for the country’s European integration. 

 

The ruling party needs 100 votes in the 150-member Parliament to dismiss Zourabichvili. However, it will need the opposition’s support to achieve the goal.