Georgian parliament adopts constitutional amendments
Georgian Parliament has adopted today the draft constitutional changes at their third and final hearing, Agenda.ge reported. Out of the 119 lawmakers who had registered to vote on the draft, 117 voted in favour and two went against, the source said.
Opposition members of the parliament did not participate in the vote. The constitutional amendments will come into force following the 2018 presidential elections.
The amendments into the constitution include switching to fully proportional elections in 2024; president to be elected by a special council starting in 2024; prohibition of the sale of agricultural lands to foreign nationals; granting mandate to the opposition in parliament to create investigative commissions.
This morning, before the Parliament voted on the constitutional amendments, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated that Georgia could be proud of the document which "ensures balance between state institutions, a strong parliament, effective government, fair court and an impartial president”.