Georgia – Reforms proposed

Eurasia Daily Monitor reports that in Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili has proposed an institutional reform programme, some of which will involve amendments to the constitution. One of the proposed reforms is a simplification of the procedure for parliament to dismiss the government.

Currently, the procedures are, indeed, a little cumbersome. They comprise Arts. 80 and 81 of the 1995 Constitution as reformed in 2004. These articles have 13 clauses between them and some of the clauses are long paragraphs. Plus there are two additional Articles 81 that resulted from the reform! So, there might be some usefulness in simplifying procedures somewhat.

In the meantime, there is still opposition to President Saakashvili and criticism of his part in the events in South Ossetia. However, the first anniversary of the crackdown on the opposition by the government in November 2007 did not spark a mass protest as some had predicted. See RFE/RL report.

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