(Tbilisi, August 13, 2003, Civil Georgia) – President Shevardnadze criticized the Constitutional Court today for ruling positively on the Labor Party’s appeal last December not to increase the electricity tax.
The electricity tax increase was one of the recommendations made by the International Monetary Fund.
“Why should the Constitutional Court not consult with me before making such an important decision that will have an impact on the state budget?” Eduard Shevardnadze said at the government’s meeting today.
On August 8, the National Energy Regulato!
ry Commission (NERC) submitted a proposal to increase the electricity tax to the Justice Ministry for consideration.
However, Justice Minister Roland Giligashvili said today that the NERC’s decision contradicts the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
This is the second time that Shevardnadze has mounted pressure on the court. On July 30, he called on the judges to reject any appeal by pensioners to demand that the government repay pension backlogs.
“The judges are appointed by me and I have a moral right to request them to reject this kind of law suit,” Eduard Shevardnadze said on July 30.
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