President Saakashvili as future Prime Minister

The draft Constitution of Georgia aims at “prolonging” President Mikheil Saakashvili’s mandate after expiration of his term of office in 2013, Ex-speaker of the Georgian parliament, leader of the Democratic Movement – United Georgia opposition party Nino Burjanadze declared yesterday, as reported by RIA Novosti.

The draft Constitution envisages reduction of President’s power and its redistribution between the parliament and Prime Minister. The draft was adopted by the State Constitutional Committee last week.

“I am convinced that the new version of the Constitution reflects President Saakashvili’s attempt to retain power and to rule the country as Prime Minister,” Burjanadze said at the party Board meeting.

She said that the new Constitution does not raise the role of parliament, it merely raises Prime Minister’s role. The new version does not guarantee right operation of local self-government bodies, either, Burjanadze stressed.