Irakli kobakhidze: the position of the President and 20 opposition parties deviates from the Venice Commission opinion

According to the Speaker, the position of the President and 20 opposition parties deviates from the Venice Commission opinion, as he made the statement after the Legal Issues Committee sitting where he introduced the drafts on Constitutional Changes and on Adjara Autonomous Republic with the II reading.

“The remarks provided in the document are not shared by the Venice Commission except one. The Commission expressed its discontent that unfortunately the proportional system cannot be applied in 2010. No other remarks by the President are shared by the Venice Commission. The remarks concern the Presidential election as well.

The Venice Commission approved indirect election of the President as directly provided in the previous opinion. The Commission has no remarks regarding the authority, as well as issues on the Government or annulment of the Security Council and defense chapter. Correspondingly, the position of the President and 20 opposition parties deviates from the Venice Commission opinion.

The Commission issued a very positive opinion regarding the Constitutional changes. The Commission also does not share the position of the President and so-called 20 parties on annulment of the blocs as considers that the proportional system under the 5% threshold for the parties is in full compliance with the EU standards”.

The Speaker expects the veto of the President on the Constitutional drafts. He does not exclude the veto to be in line with the document developed by the President and 20 opposition parties jointly.