Georgian Constitutional Court to consider proposal to impeach president

On October 3, the Constitutional Court (CC) of Georgia will consider the proposal to impeach President Salome Zurabishvili, Report informs via Georgian media.

Consideration of the proposal will take place at a hearing on October 3, 2023, with the participation of the authors of the proposal and the President of Georgia, the Constitutional Court said.

The subject of discussion in the constitutional submission is a possible violation of Article 52 of the Constitution of Georgia in connection with the President making working visits abroad and holding meetings and negotiations with foreign officials without the consent of the government.

The ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party submitted a constitutional submission along with a written demand of 80 deputies from the majority to launch impeachment proceedings against the president at the Constitutional Court on September 12. Georgian Dream announced the launch of impeachment proceedings against Zurabishvili after she began a tour abroad on August 31 without government approval.

If the Constitutional Court confirms the president's violation of the Constitution, within 10 days the parliament will begin to consider the court's conclusion. Then, within 30 days, a decision must be made to put the issue to a vote. The issue will be put to a vote if it is supported by a majority of deputies, the law “On Impeachment” states.

Meanwhile, Zurabishvili went on another European tour, which she is doing without government approval. Today she will hold talks with Estonian President Alar Karis in Tallinn, and with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevich tomorrow in Riga. And on September 27, she will meet with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Vilnius.