Georgian Parliament To Vote On Constitutional Amendments

October 15, 2010
Georgian lawmakers are expected today to approve constitutional changes that would hand more power to the prime minister, reducing the powers of the president.

Critics fear the move may allow President Mikheil Saakashvili to hold onto power when his second and final term in office expires in January 2013.

Saakashvili has said that the new constitution "will not be tailored on personalities" and that his goal was not to stay in power but to secure "continuation of reforms" launched by the current leadership.

The voting was originally planned for October 12 but parliament postponed it, citing the need to give more time to lawmakers to study the final draft before the vote.

compiled from agency reports
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