There is no basis for calling new elections - the announcement of a corresponding decision would be comical as well as a crime. Today, until 21:00, there is time to think about it. Let's see who will prevail, someone smart or Salome Zurabishvili, who is not "someone smart", - the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated.
According to him, there are relevant entries in the Criminal Code that provide for a long-term sentence for such an act, in the form of imprisonment.
"As for calling elections, the matter is legally simple. According to our Constitution and legislation, there are three specific grounds for calling elections.
New elections can be called only if the CEC or a court, including the Constitutional Court, annuls the election results. You know that the CEC summarized the election results, all complaints were considered in court. Salome Zurabishvili herself appealed to the Constitutional Court together with opposition parties and NGOs. The Constitutional Court also confirmed the legitimacy of the elections. Accordingly, according to our Constitution and legislation, there is no basis for calling new elections.
As for the next elections, they shall be called after the 4-year term of the Parliament expires. It is clear that this basis does not exist either. According to the Constitution, early elections are called in the only case when the Parliament does not express confidence to the composition of the Government. As you know, the Parliament expressed confidence to the Government, therefore, this third basis is not present either.
Therefore, the President’s corresponding decision, statement would be completely comical. However, along with being comical, it would also be a crime. There are relevant entries in the Criminal Code, which provide for a long-term sentence in the form of imprisonment for such an act. I will say once again that someone smart advised Salome Zurabishvili not to do this. She ultimately asked for one day, until 21:00 today and she still has time to think about it, let's see who will prevail, someone smart or Salome Zurabishvili, who is not someone smart," Kobakhidze said.