Ruling party head will do “his best” for President’s impeachment as has “guarantees” to replace her – ex-Minister

Tinatin Khidasheli, a former Defence Minister under the Georgian Dream Government, on Tuesday claimed Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, would do “his best” to achieve the President’s impeachment as he had “full guarantees” to take the post. 

 

The former official also said President Salome Zourabichvili was not obliged to attend the hearing over her impeachment in the Constitutional Court later on Tuesday, after the GD addressed the court to provide its conclusions whether the President had violated the country’s main law through her EU trip last month, as she said to facilitate Tbilisi’s receiving the bloc’s membership candidate status in December. 

 

The GD said and the Government confirmed the latter had rejected her request for the trips, claiming holding unauthorized visits was the violation of the law. 

 

In her comments Khidasheli also said she did not have “high expectations” the court would “withstand pressure” on it, but noted “I am also waiting for something different”. 

 

If the court says Zourabichvili violated the law through her visits, the GD would need at least 100 votes in the 150-member Parliament to dismiss Zourabichvili. However, in such a situation the ruling party will need the opposition’s support as it does not have enough seats. 

 

The United National Movement, the largest opposition group in the legislative body, said last month they would boycott the vote, accusing the GD of “undermining” the country’s European future.