Partial Increase of Pensions Heats up Debates in Ruling Party

Four members of the parliamentary majority joined the opposition MPs proposal to sue the government to the Constitutional Court.

MPs Zviad Dzidziguri, Nika Gvaramia, Kakha Kukava and Bidzina Gujabidze of ruling National Movement-Democrats party agreed to sign appeal to the Constitutional Court, triggering protest of the party?s leadership.

Non-partisan opposition MP Koba Davitashvili collected 47 lawmakers? signatures, protesting against the government?s intention to partially increase pensions.

According to the draft 2004 budget government will increase pensions by 4 Lari for those pensioners, whose pension arrears have already been covered by the government.

Pensioners whose backlog is not yet covered will also receive 4 more Lari per month, however, this sum will be repayment of debt accumulated during the previous months.

?This is a violation of the Constitution, which says that Georgian citizens are equal and all the pensioners should be treated equally; hence pensions should be increased equally for all of them,? MP Koba Davitashvili told Civil Georgia.