Powers of Georgian Central Election Committee head terminated
TBILISI. Aug 29 (Interfax) - The powers of the Georgian Central Election Committee head Zurab Kharatishvili, who asked the parliament to accept his resignation on August 12, were automatically terminated on August 29, the Central Election Committee spokesperson Eka Azarashvili told reporters on Thursday.
According to the election code of Georgia, the parliament has 15 days to pass a resolution to terminate Kharatishvili's powers, Azarashvili said. However, the legislative body has not held an unscheduled meeting, so the powers of Kharatishvili were terminated automatically on Thursday.
Kharatishvili intends to run in the presidential elections to be held in Georgia on October 27 and is in negotiations with right-wing parties to that purpose.
According to the law, the Georgian president has to submit three candidates to head the Central Election Committee 15 days after the powers of the current head are terminated. Then, the Central Election Committee members - representatives of parties, except the one with the best results at the latest parliamentary elections - have to elect a new head within five days. If none of the candidates receive four or more votes of the Central Election Committee members, the issue will be brought to the parliament to decide within seven days.
It is known already that one of the candidates will be head of the UN development foundation, Tamara Zhvania, proposed by local non-governmental organizations.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he was ready to support this candidate.