Georgia starts public hearings on amending Constitution

The public debates on amendments to the Constitution have been initiated by the oppositional Christian-Democratic movement with the aim to make it possible for the leader of the coalition "Georgian Dream" Bidzina Ivanishvili to take part in the parliamentary elections.

"Our initiative equates in full the political rights of Georgian citizens with those of citizens of the countries-members of the EU. We suggest that they were able not only to run for parliament, but also hold important government posts, such as the positions of ministers or the Prime Minister of Georgia. I guess it reasonable to expand the list of countries whose citizens will be equated to the political rights of Georgians. I think that later US citizens will be also equated," Georgi Targamadze, the leader of the Christian-Democratic Movement and an MP, said at the sitting of the commission.

He noted that in the Georgia's difficult socio-economic period many people had moved to other countries, received citizenship there; however, some of them have the desire and resources to take an active part in the political life of Georgia.

"We offer to create equal conditions for them with citizens of Georgia, for them to have chances to found their own party and fund its run for parliament. Then, election will take place in a competitive environment, and the electoral process will pass peacefully," said Targamadze.

The initiative of the Christian-Democrats, which was supported by the parliamentary majority, consisting members and supporters of the ruling party "United National Movement", was protested against by the MPs from the oppositional faction "Unity for Justice".

Pavle Kublashvili from the ruling party, who chairs the Judiciary Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, said that the parliamentary majority had supported the initiative of Christian-Democrats in order to avoid "political speculations".

Public hearings on amendments to the Constitution will be held during a month in different regions of the country. After that, they will be considered by the Parliament of Georgia.