Tweet
Georgians collects 1mln signatures demanding Saakashvili's departure
TBILISI, February 8 (Itar-Tass) - Over 1.2 million signatures
demanding President Mikhail Saakashvili's resignation were collected
in Georgia, representatives of the non-governmental organization
Unanimity for the Rights of Society told reporters on Friday.
They believe that `Saakashvili's term of office expired on January 20,
2013.' `The parliament should fix this fact and powers of the
president should be handed over to the parliamentary speaker until the
new presidential election is held.'
These signatures have been collected by several non-governmental
organizations over the past three months in different regions of
Georgia and `prove that the majority of Georgia's population seek
Saakashvili's departure.'
Under the Constitution the Georgian president is elected for five
years. However, the basic law states that the next presidential
election should be held in October after the president's term of
office expires.
Saakashvili, who had been elected as president in January 2008,
announced that he had no intention to step down ahead of time and
insisted that the election would take place in autumn.
There are 4.5 million people in Georgia, of them 3.613 million are
eligible voters. Collection of signatures has no legal force, but
politicians and public figures believe that this move reflects
position of the population.
TBILISI, February 8 (Itar-Tass) - Over 1.2 million signatures
demanding President Mikhail Saakashvili's resignation were collected
in Georgia, representatives of the non-governmental organization
Unanimity for the Rights of Society told reporters on Friday.
They believe that `Saakashvili's term of office expired on January 20,
2013.' `The parliament should fix this fact and powers of the
president should be handed over to the parliamentary speaker until the
new presidential election is held.'
These signatures have been collected by several non-governmental
organizations over the past three months in different regions of
Georgia and `prove that the majority of Georgia's population seek
Saakashvili's departure.'
Under the Constitution the Georgian president is elected for five
years. However, the basic law states that the next presidential
election should be held in October after the president's term of
office expires.
Saakashvili, who had been elected as president in January 2008,
announced that he had no intention to step down ahead of time and
insisted that the election would take place in autumn.
There are 4.5 million people in Georgia, of them 3.613 million are
eligible voters. Collection of signatures has no legal force, but
politicians and public figures believe that this move reflects
position of the population.