MPs Refuse to Vote on Disputed Ambassadorial Nomination

The Parliament decided on May 20 to postpone the voting on the appointment of Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Gomiashvili as Georgia?s Ambassador to Switzerland, after a group of parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party refused to support this nomination.

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at a parliamentary session on May 20 that since Gomiashvili?s nomination sparked serious controversy in the Parliament, ?the issue will be removed from the agenda.?
 
It has not been ruled out that the MPs will demand that the government withdraw Gomiashvili nomination.
 
Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Mikheil Machavariani announced on May 19 that he will not support Gomiashvili?s nomination, citing the nominee’s ?lack of experience.?
 
Unofficial reports say that some parliamentarians are opposing to Gomiashvili?s nomination because he is regarded as a prot?g? of Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili, with whom some of the leading parliamentarians have strained relations with. But the MPs themselves have denied that they have any personal disagreement with Salome Zourabichvili.

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