(Tbilisi. March 12, 2003. Civil Georgia) – The Parliamentary session was postponed for tomorrow because of the lack of quorum today.
The opposition Parliamentary faction United Democrats admitted that they deliberately refused to attend the session as they are against of discussion of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedures’ decision that recommends the MPs to annul law on increase of minimal salary to the subsistence level.
Parliamentary Committee on Procedures ruled on March 7 meeting that the law on increase of the minimal salary to 115 Lari (USD 52.9) per month was adopted with the procedural violations by the Parliament on February 28. The pro-governmental Parliamentary factions demanded to declare the law as invalid.
The pro-governmental Parliamentary factions demanded to declare the law as invalid. The government categorically opposes the implementation of the law, claiming it would lead to “economic disaster and inflation.”
The United Democrats have scored a major victory by passing through the Parliament their critical pre-election proposal of increasing the minimal salary.
The parliament decision poses a dilemma for the government. President tries to evade vetoing the law, as any move to block the implementation of the decision would cost the votes during the upcoming parliamentary elections.
On March 10 President Shevardnadze expressed hope that the Parliament would revise its decision, regarding the law on increase of salary.
According to the Georgian constitution President should sign, or veto a law within the two week after the law is approved by the Parliament, thus the final decision regarding the controversial law should be made before March 14.
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