President: ‘I Took Oath of Office Before People, Not GD’

President Giorgi Margvelashvili said that attempt of some politicians from the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling coalition to portray him as if being in alliance with the opposition United National Movement (UNM) “damages” GD itself and “strengthens” the opposition party.

“I do not understand why they are doing it,” he said in an interview with the Tbilisi-based Maestro TV on July 31 when responding a question about GD’s criticism of his decision to veto a highly controversial bill on banking supervision.

Commenting on presidential veto on July 31, co-sponsor of the bill and chair of the parliamentary committee on finance and budget, GD MP Tamaz Mechiauri slammed Margvelashvili and said that President’s decisions are in line with the position of UNM party.

“He plays president,” MP Mechiauri said. “He was not elected by voters; he was elected by Bidzina Ivanishvili and people voted for him [Margvelashvili] because of Ivanishvili.”

Vice-speaker of Parliament, GD MP Manana Kobakhidze, said President Margvelashvili’s decision to veto the bill is “part of UNM’s agenda.”

“I regret that the positions of the president and UNM often concur,” she said.

In contrast to his fellow party members and unlike his previous comments on the issue, PM Irakli Garibashvili offered mild criticism and said on presidential veto on July 31: “This is a democratic process. Of course it is up to the President to decide; and it is up to us whether we would agree or not.” He then also added: “Like other vetoes were overridden, we will also overturn this veto without any problem.”

President Margvelashvili said that it was his “duty” to use veto powers in respect of the bill, which drew wide criticism and which would strip the Georgian National Bank (NBG) of supervisory functions of financial institutions and transfer them to a separate agency.

“When I see that a bill contradicts to fundamental interests of the country, I will not stand aside and I will not be afraid to say the truth just because we are the same team. Although it will be followed by political campaigns, insults, I will say openly the truth, because this is good for Georgia,” he told Maestro TV.

“It might not be comfortable for the ruling coalition,” he continued. “But I am the President elected by the Georgian people – the President, who took oath of office not before the Georgian Dream, but before the population of Georgia to serve not to a political party, but to serve the country.”

“During the election campaign focus was made on this even by the Georgian Dream that we are electing a president, who does not belong to any of the political party, the president who will be the president for everyone and that’s the mandate I was elected with. Therefore, if I see that a bill creates problems to the country in one form or another, it is my duty to offer an alternative option, including based on my political views, which by the way… is in line with the Georgian Dream’s pre-election program and not with the one of the UNM,” Margvelashvili said.

Some GD lawmakers have suggested that the Parliament may not interrupt summer recess to address the presidential veto and the issue is likely to be discussed in September when the legislative body reconvenes for plenary session. The Georgian Dream ruling coalition has enough votes in the Parliament to override the veto.

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