President Giorgi Margvelashvili will deliver his annual state of the nation address in the Parliament on March 18, parliament speaker Davit Usupashvili and president’s administration said on Monday.

Usupashvili said consultations will be held among political groups in the parliament t decide about format – whether President’s speech would be followed by debates in the Parliament or not.

Lawmakers from the UNM and Free Democrats opposition parties have called for debates following the President’s speech. Some MPs from GD ruling coalition, among them Gia Volski, who chairs Georgian Dream faction, voiced reluctance.

President’s parliamentary secretary, Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze, said on February 9 that it is up to the Parliament to decide about the format and the President is ready for debates.

“We think his address should become a subject for exchange of views,” he said.

President Margvelashvili said in January that he hopes the government members would not snub his annual address like it happened last year. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili responded in January that there was no need for the government to attend.