Constitutional amendments curbing PM's powers come into force in Georgia
TBILISI. Oct 17 (Interfax) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili approved constitutional amendments, which limit powers of the prime minister, on Wednesday. The parliament endorsed the amendments on October 4, 2013.
The amendments forbid the prime minister to replace over a third of government ministers without the parliament's consent or submit a legislative initiative that was rejected by the parliament for a second time.
If the parliament declines to approve the draft state budget in a period of two months, it will have the right to put forward a motion of no-confidence in the government and begin constitutional procedures for the government's disbandment.
In the opinion of independent Georgian experts, the constitutional amendments not only limit the powers of the prime minister (who actually becomes the top-ranking government official after the presidential election of October 27 and the entry into force of the constitutional amendments passed in 2010) but also enhance the parliament's control over the executive branch.
Experts believe that the constitutional amendments of 2010 were custom-made for Saakashvili who was supposed to take the post of prime minister and enjoy practically unlimited powers after the end of his second term of presidency and in the case of the victory of his party, United National Movement, in the parliamentary election in October 2012. The constitutional amendments made the Georgian president a purely representative figure.