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Georgian parliament considers new constitution

RIA Novosti

13:32 09/09/2010

MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Georgian parliament began discussing on Wednesday a new constitution that would turn the country into a parliamentary democracy and allow President Mikheil Saakashvili to keep his hand on the tiller after his presidential term expires in 2013, a Russian business daily said on Thursday.

If the new constitution comes into force, it will divide some of the current presidential powers between the prime minister and parliament, Kommersant said.

Saakashvili is expected to follow Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's suit and become prime minister of Georgia after his presidential term expires. If he does this and the new constitution comes into force, he will maintain his hold on power in the country for an indefinite period of time.

Leader of opposition party Democratic Movement-United Georgia, Nino Burdzhanadze, said in July that Saakashvili would try to hang onto power after his presidential term expires in 2013.

"I am sure that the new draft Georgian Constitution is connected to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's attempt to extend his powers and to continue to rule the country as prime minister," Burdzhanadze said.

She said the new constitution strengthens the role of the prime minister rather than the functions of parliament and that the resignation procedure for the prime minister under the draft is so complicated that implementing the impeachment of a prime minister would be practically impossible.

Saakashvili denied claims that he was going down the same route as Putin.

"Putin has fewer powers on paper that the president, but all the levers are in his hands. He did not change the constitution and chose informal power over constitutional power."

Earlier, the Georgian opposition demanded that a new parliament be elected to vote on the new constitution, saying the current parliament, dominated by the center-right United National Movement, must be replaced by a more "legitimate" one ahead of the crucial vote.

Saakashvili rejected the demand, adding that the opposition "loves itself and seeks to occupy [government] positions, while the government loves the Georgian people and takes care of their future."

Parliamentary elections are to take place in Georgia in 2012, and presidential polls in 2013. Saakashvili said in July the elections would take place on schedule despite any claims by the opposition.