As COP29 wrapped up in Baku last week, a powerful dialogue emerged not only on climate change but also on the country’s growing role in both global energy security and green energy investments. While world leaders gathered in Baku for this landmark event, the G20 summit in Brazil also addressed climate challenges. Despite the physical distance between these two meetings, a common theme emerged: the urgent need for cooperative climate action, with Azerbaijan positioning itself at the centre of these discussions.
Day: November 26, 2024
Georgia needs new parliamentary elections
“The 11th [convocation of] Parliament of Georgia held its first session on November 25 and voted to recognize its own authority, but it had no right to do so. By doing this, the deputies placed themselves above the Constitution,” says constitutional expert Vakhtang Khmaladze.
On November 25, Georgia‘s newly elected 11th Parliament held its first session amid a large-scale protest. The protesters claimed that the October 26 elections were falsified, labeling the parliament as illegitimate and self-proclaimed.
Only MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream party participated in the first session. According to the official election results announced by the Central Election Commission, the party secured nearly 54% of the vote, winning 89 out of 150 seats. Four opposition groups that also entered parliament have refused to take part and are demanding new elections.
MPs from the ruling party entered the parliament building and later left under the protection of special forces. The area around the parliament and the government district were heavily secured by law enforcement and specialized equipment.
Constitutional expert Vakhtang Khmaladze
“Lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of all 150 newly elected MPs are currently under consideration in the Constitutional Court, filed by the president and members of parliament.
Until the court rules on these lawsuits, the parliament, according to the Constitution, has no right to discuss the authority of its members.
The parliament would only be allowed to convene in two cases: if the Constitutional Court did not accept these lawsuits for review, or if it examined them and found them to be unfounded. However, neither of these outcomes has occurred.
By convening, the parliament has placed itself outside the Constitution. This can only be described as a power grab, which is also prohibited by the Constitution.
We must use all available mechanisms to prevent this power grab. The authorities may take actions in the future that could put us—those of us already in a difficult situation—into an even more precarious position.
Khmaladze believes the situation warrants a case before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. “For this, we need suitable plaintiffs, and I know such a group exists,” he said.
“The Constitution is a legal document that protects our rights. But we must not forget that the Constitution itself also requires protection.
When someone attempts to violate it, we, the people, must defend it. The Constitution clearly states that no one has the right to usurp power. This is not written without reason. Such actions have occurred before and could happen again,” says Khmaladze.
The constitutional expert sees the solution to the current crisis in holding new elections.
“All constitutional law textbooks state that early elections are held to resolve a political crisis. But this is not part of Georgian Dream’s plans,” Khmaladze said.
Georgia needs new parliamentary elections
On November 26, the newly elected members of the Supreme Council of Adjara gathered for their session at 12:00, in accordance with the final protocol issued by the Supreme Election Commission of Adjara. The elections were held on October 26, alongside Georgia’s national parliamentary elections. The opposition has refused to participate in legislative activities. They claim that the parliamentary elections were rigged and are calling for the results to be annulled.
The Supreme Council meeting proceeded against the background of a protest rally organized outside the Supreme Council building. The rally, led by organizer Tsiala Katamidze, labeled the newly convened Council as “unconstitutional” and “illegitimate,” adding that “their gathering today is beyond the legal framework.”
According to the Supreme Election Commission of Adjara, the elected members of the Supreme Council are as follows: 13 mandates for the Georgian Dream party, four mandates for the Unity-UNM, two mandates for Gakharia for Georgia, one mandate for the Coalition for Change and one mandate for Strong Georgia.
In line with customary procedural practices, the Georgian Dream faction nominated Davit Gabaidze for the position of Chairman of the Supreme Council; Additionally, Ramaz Jincharadze was elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Council.
The chairpersons of the committees of the Supreme Council were elected by an all-Georgian Dream members as follows
- Pridon Putkaradze – Committee on Agrarian and Environmental Issues
- Tsotne Ananidze – Committee on Human Rights
- Davit Batsikadze – Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sports
- Tite Aroshidze – Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Procedural Matters
- Marine Gvianidze – Committee on Finance, Budget and Economic Issues
- Vakhtang Beridze – Committee on Health Care and Social Issues
As for the committees, they were staffed with the following members of the Supreme Council:
- Committee on Agrarian and Environmental Issues – Vakhtang Beridze, Marine Gvianidze, Mindia Diasamidze, Pridon Putkaradze;
- Committee on Human Rights Protection- Tsotne Ananidze, Mindia Diasamidze, Pati Khalvashi, Ramaz Jincharadze;
- Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sports – Davit Tedoradze, Davit Batsikadze, Gogi Putkaradze, Pati Khalvashi;
- Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Procedural Matters- Tite Aroshidze, Davit Batsikadze, Mamuka Turmanidze, Pridon Putkaradze;
- Committee on Finance, Budget and Economic Issues – Tite Aroshidze, Marine Gvianidze, Mamuka Turmanidze, Gogi Putkaradze.
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Abkhazia chooses new Prosecutor General
In Abkhazia, a debate is underway over who should become the new prosecutor general. The term of the current prosecutor, Adgur Agrba, ends in December. Supporters of former President Aslan Bzhania want him to stay on for another five years, while the opposition is firmly against it.
According to the law, the president is responsible for proposing a candidate for the new prosecutor general to parliament. However, after Aslan Bzhania’s early resignation, Abkhazia does not currently have an official president. His duties are temporarily being carried out by Vice President Badra Gumba, who is therefore expected to select the candidate.
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The current prosecutor general, Adgur Agrba, stated that opposition leader Kan Kvarchia is exerting pressure on Badra Gumba to prevent him from nominating Agrba for a new term. Agrba made this statement on November 25 outside the Prosecutor’s Office, where around two hundred supporters of the former government had gathered.
The pro-government party Amtsakhara also voiced support for Agrba, though with a slightly different emphasis:
“According to the signed agreement [between the government and the opposition to resolve the crisis], current ministers will continue in their roles until the newly elected president of the Republic of Abkhazia assumes office.
We urge opposition forces to respect the terms of the jointly adopted agreement and to demonstrate a higher level of political culture. Otherwise, further destabilization of the political situation and illegal actions by opposition members could lead to irreparable consequences.”
In turn, the opposition demands that all personnel matters, including the appointment of the prosecutor general, be deferred until the election of a new president. According to their logic, acting president Badra Gumba should refrain from exercising his formal right to nominate a prosecutor.
Opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba urged against escalating the political situation ahead of the elections:
“Whoever the Abkhaz people elect as president will also choose whom they wish to work with in their team, including the Prosecutor General.
Our firm position is that the presidential election must be held in a calm and fair atmosphere, ensuring the will of the people.
Any personnel decisions, including the nomination of the Attorney General, will remain the exclusive right of the newly elected president, as per the law.”
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Abkhazia chooses new Prosecutor General
Georgia’s sixth President will be elected on December 14, as decided on November 26 at the Parliament’s plenary session, with the exclusive participation of the Georgian Dream MPs, with 80 votes in favor and none against. The inauguration of the new President will take place on December 29. The new President will be elected for a term of five years.
On November 25 the Georgian Dream party convened the first session of the Parliament despite the protests outside the Parliament building, mounting evidence of systemic election fraud and the two complaints, including the President’s, to the Constitutional Court challenging the legality of the elections.
Incumbent Salome Zurabishvili is the last President elected by popular vote. Her term ends on December 16. The country’s sixth President is to be elected by a 300-member electoral college. This includes 150 members of Parliament, all 21 members of the Supreme Council of Adjara, all 20 members of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, and 109 members of local authorities. The member electoral college will meet in the Georgian Parliament on December 14 to vote for the President. The election will be conducted by the Central Election Commission. As the legitimacy of the Parliament is being challenged by various political actors, with a relevant appeal still pending in the Constitutional Court, and as the CEC’s reputation is tarnished by evidence of numerous violations during the elections, this raises questions about the legitimacy of the new President, experts say.
The presidential candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the votes to be considered elected in the first round. If the President is not elected in the first round, a second round is held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round. The candidate with the most votes then wins. The Speaker sets the date for the second round. Shalva Papuashvili said at today’s session that if the second round is to be held, he will set the date for it on the same day.
The President, currently the pro-European Salome Zurabishvili, is widely seen as the last remaining state institution not under the influence and in the service of the ruling party.
For the GD, Presidents have been a particular headache. Leaving aside the third President Mikheil Saakashvili, who was still in office when GD won elections in 2012 and was representing a United National Movement- the archnemesis of the Georgian Dream, the fourth and fifth Presidents, Giorgi Margvelashvili and Salome Zurabishvili, who initially emerged from the ruling party turned out to be “prodigal children” and eventually diverged and clashed with its authoritarian agenda.
GD said it will now be particularly cautious about picking a candidate who will remain firmly under party control. “The presidential candidate will certainly be the person in whom everyone will be sure that he/she serves the homeland…The most important thing is that he/she is Georgian, and we are not talking only about genetics and citizenship…” Mamuka Mdinaradze told journalists.
Majority leader Mamuka Mdinaradze said the ruling party has already decided on the presidential candidate it will nominate. He ruled out the nomination of Bidzina Ivanishvili. There have been reports from the opposition-leaning Mtavari TV that the GD would nominate former Prime Minister and current ruling party leader Irakli Garibashvili and Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, a son of Georgia’s first president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Today, Mdinaradze denied both nominations.