A proposed constitutional reform project could provide the answer for Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's retirement plans once he leaves office in 2013, claims RFE/RL's Russian-language site Ekho Kavkaza.
Under the project, approved on May 11 by the State Constitutional Commission, Georgia's prime minister (and cabinet) would be chosen from its parliamentary majority. That individual would then "receive the right to define" the country's foreign and domestic policy. The prime minister's signature would be required on "substantial" documents signed by the president.
The president, meanwhile, would still be directly elected, and serve as commander-in-chief of the Georgian military and Georgia's chief representative abroad.
In "private conversations," members of the constitutional commission reportedly indicated to Ekho Kavkaza that the document "gives Mikheil Saakashvili the possibility to remain in power for several years more" if he runs for parliament.
Saakashvili's United National Movement currently holds a comfortable majority in parliament; fresh elections are set for 2012.
The project will head off on a European feedback tour before being put to a vote in parliament.
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