The Constitutional Court published a conclusion on the submission for impeachment of the President.
The court determined that there was a violation of the country’s Constitution on the party of President Salome Zurabishvili by her making unauthorized visits to Europe. The Chairman of the court noted that three judges – Irina Imerlishvili, Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze and Teimuraz Tughushi – expressed a different opinion on the conclusion.
“On August 31, 2023, during her working visits abroad on September 1 and 6, the President of Georgia exercised her representative authority in the field of foreign relations without the consent of the Government of Georgia, thus violating the provisions of Article 52, Article 1, Subpoint A of the Constitution of Georgia. The Court concludes that the above is a violation of the Constitution.
“The conclusion is valid from the moment it is published on the website of the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The decision is final and not subject to appeal or revision. The different opinion of the judges, Irine Imerlishvili, Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze and Teimuraz Tughushi, should be attached to the conclusion,” said Merab Turava, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, while reading the court’s conclusion.
The basis for the initiation of the impeachment process against the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili by the ruling team was the foreign visits she made without the government’s consent. The issue to impeach the President was decided on September 1 at the political council meeting of the Georgian Dream party. The Constitutional Court considered the impeachment submission of the President for three days.
The votes of 100 deputies are needed to impeach the President, which means that the support of the opposition along with members of Georgian Dream will be needed to remove the President.
