The president also had strong powers over parliament. Parliament exercised legislative power, determined the main directions of domestic and foreign policy, and exercised control over government activity. At the same time, the president had broad legislative powers, including the right of legislative initiative in exclusive cases (but in practice the president was able to determine any legislative initiative as an “exclusive case”), legislative priority for the consideration of an initiative submitted by the president or the government, as well as veto power. The president’s veto could be overturned by a three-fifths majority of all deputies and constitutional laws by a two-thirds majority of all deputies. The president was entitled to issue …show more content…
The prime minister determined the direction of government activity, organized the government’s activity, and coordinated and controlled the activity of the government members. The prime minister was accountable both to the president and to the parliament of Georgia. So, the 2004 constitution established a president-parliamentary form of semi-presidentialism. The government was formed by the president and while it had to resign following a presidential election, it did not have to do so following a parliamentary election. The president was entitled to convene and preside over government meetings with regard to significant state issues. Resolutions adopted at the meetings were executed by a presidential …show more content…
Since the changes, the president no longer coordinates the activities of state bodies in accordance with the constitution. The president is still the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but he/she is not the high representative of Georgia for foreign relations as was previously the case. The President of Georgia represents Georgia in foreign relations, but at the same time the constitution states that the Prime Minister and ministers shall represent Georgia in foreign relations on matters “within their competence”. The president is no longer entitled to hold a party