June 13, 2008
Civil Georgia

Number of vice-speakers’ posts in the new Parliament has increased from four to seven, as a result of amendment passed with its first hearing on June 13.

According to the amendment the opposition lawmakers can nominate candidates for the three vice-speakers’ positions.

Currently only two vice-speakers’ post are filled.

In addition, according to the amendment number of deputy chairmen of the parliamentary committees will increase from two to three. One additional post of deputy committee chair will go to opposition lawmakers.

Davit Bakradze, the Parliamentary Chairman, said these amendments were in the line of an agreement reached between the ruling party and the Christian-Democratic Party and On Our Own party, envisaging, as Bakradze said, giving more powers to the opposition lawmakers.

According to the same amendment two new parliamentary committees have been created – one on sports and youth issues and another one on Georgian diaspora issues. Giorgi Asanidze and political newcomer Nugzar Tsiklauri, both from the ruling party, are likely to chair the new committees, respectively.