June 20, 2008
Civil Georgia

Lawmakers from the Christian-Democratic Party attended the parliamentary session for the first time on June 20, since the new Parliament was convened earlier this month.

The Christian-Democratic Party, led by Giorgi Targamadze, has been criticized by the opposition coalition for its decision not to boycott the new Parliament called the party “a pseudo-opposition.”

MP Giorgi Targamadze reiterated his party’s position while addressing the Parliament on June 20, that the new Parliament and election results did not reflect the real mood of society, but also added that his party deemed it more effective to continue political struggle from within the Parliament.

The Christian-Democratic Party also said it decided to engage in the parliamentary activities after the ruling party started implementation of agreements reached on June 12.

Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani welcomed the Christian-Democrats decision and said dissent voice in the Parliament was a positive sign.

MP Jondi Bagaturia, who was elected on the opposition coalition’s joint ticket but had to quit the coalition after he decided to join the Parliament, has also launched his parliamentary activities a few days ago.

On June 20 he called on the lawmakers to set up an investigative commission to probe into the electoral violations reported during the May 21 parliamentary elections.

Parliamentary Chairman Davit Bakradze, however, told MP Bagaturia that the parliament’s regulations did not stipulate setting up an investigation commission based on an initiative of only one lawmaker. According to the regulations, the Parliamentary Chairman, a parliamentary committee, a faction or at least one fourth of the Parliament’s lawmakers can initiate setting up of a special commission.