Welcome to Georgia.

Georgia to go for fresh mandate on Jan 4, 2003
Nov 26, 2003 TBILISI, Georgia

Acting Georgia leader Nino Burdzhanadze announced that January 4, 2004 is the day for next Presidential Elections. The Georgia’s highest court earlier declared that the elections held on November 2, 2003 are invalid. The 75 legislators elected in individual as opposed to party or race will keep their seats.

Shevardnadze agrees for elections in Georgia

23 Nov 2003, Georgia

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has said he will consider holding fresh elections if protesters occupying parliament leave the building. Earlier Eduard Shevardnadze has quit from his post. The opposition has already named a new acting president, Nino Burdzhanadze. Shevardnadze first became leader of Georgia in 1992.

About Governments in Georgia

Georgia’s new constitution, approved by the old State Council in August 1995, re-established the office of president and created a new parliament. The constitution, which took effect following the November 1995 elections, established a five-year presidential term.

Prior to the elections, the 1921 constitution was in force, under which the chairman of the State Council held executive powers. The original post-independence government was headed by a president, but the presidency was abolished in reaction to the authoritarian approach of Georgia’s first post-independence president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia.

Although Georgia is implementing a western-style government and legal system, it is not a full democracy. The country has a new Law of Citizenship, which makes every permanent resident a citizen regardless of ethnic origin. It also sets generous guidelines for new settlers. The voting age is 18.