Ruling party announces impeachment procedures against President amid Zourabichvili’s European trip

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday announced the launch of impeachment procedures against President Salome Zourabichvili for “violating” the country’s constitution through visiting Germany despite the Government’s approval, ahead of the European Union’s forthcoming decision in December whether to grant Georgia its membership candidate status. 

 

In remarks following the GD political council session, Kobakhidze accused Zourabichvili of making an alliance with a “radical wing” of the domestic opposition – in reference to the United National Movement opposition party – and taking actions to “hamper” the country’s obtaining EU candidacy “despite the Government’s efforts”. 

 

He claimed Zourabichvili was attempting to “get political points” through portraying her actions as pro-Western, while “undermining” the country’s European future. 

 

Kobakhidze, however, noted the President’s removal from the post she took in 2018 with the GD support, would require at least 100 votes in the lawmaking body, and the ruling power alone would not be able to dismiss her. 

 

In his comments on Thursday, Kobakhidze claimed Zourabichvili could have a “beforehand” communication to the “radical opposition and their common partners” [allegedly in the West] before “violating the constitution” to retain the post by the opposition’s refusal to vote for her impeachment. 

 

Kobakhidze said despite the circumstances, the ruling party was “obliged” to launch impeachment procedures, which requires the Constitutional Court to launch a trial following the consent of at least 50 MPs. “This is our responsibility before the constitution of Georgia. Any turning a blind eye to flagrant violations of the constitution undermines the rule of law and the democratic constitutional system in the country, which we cannot allow”, Kobakhidze said. 

 

The President’s office announced earlier this week Zourabichvili had been scheduled to hold meetings in Europe to “facilitate” the country’s receiving the EU candidate status, following Zourabichvili’s allegations to the authorities of “demonizing” the West and taking “no genuine actions” to meet the candidacy conditions. 

 

The Government has confirmed  it had rejected Zourabichvili’s 10 foreign visits, including to Ukraine, Belgium, Poland and Germany, claiming the Government and not the President was authorized to implement the country’s domestic and foreign policies.