Saakashvili presents three candidates to head election body
By Nazrin Gadimova
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has presented three candidates for the post of Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC).
The candidates are Head of the UNDP's election projects Tamar Zhvania, Expert of the department of relationships with the electoral commissions of the CEC Manuchar Gamkrelidze and member of the electoral commission Konstantin Amirejibi.
In accordance with the legislation, the Georgian president should present three candidates for the post of Chairman of the CEC on the recommendation of the civil society. The CEC should choose one candidate within five days.
The head of the commission is elected by the parliament within seven days unless the CEC is able to make a decision.
Former Chairman of the Georgian CEC Zurab Kharatishvili has left his position before the presidential elections on August 12. Kharatishvili's office term automatically suspended on August 29. He intended to run for presidency in the upcoming October elections and was keen to create a new political center, which will focus on European democracy.
Kharatishvili served as chairman of the CEC since 2010. From 2008 to 2010 he was a member of the board of trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster. Until 2008 he held an of office of the Executive Director of the KPMG Company for nine years.
The October presidential election in Georgia will be the 6th after the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The last one, held on January 5, 2008, resulted in the election of Mikheil Saakashvili for his second and final presidential term. According to the constitution, Saakashvili cannot run for a third consecutive term.