Parliament approved MP Gigi Tsereteli, MP Pridon Todua and MP Rusudan Kervalishvili for vice-speaker posts on June 24.

MP Tsereteli has already held the post in the previous parliament. Todua is a new parliamentarian, having been elected in the Zugdidi single-mandate constituency. Kervalishvili is also a newcomer, elected in Tbilisi’s Samgori single-mandate constituency.

Lawmakers also approved Mikheil Machavariani as the first vice-speaker.

As a result of an amendment passed on its first hearing on June 13, the number of vice-speaker posts in Parliament has increased from four to nine.

Three vice-speaker positions are earmarked for the opposition. In accordance with the law, one vice-speaker must be a representative from Adjara - Anzor Bolkvadze, who won his seat in the Khulo single-mandate constituency of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic, was accordingly appointed vice-speaker on June 11. Another vice-speaker post should go to a lawmaker elected in the Abkhaz Autonomy. This will, however, mean one position remaining unoccupied.

Lawmakers also approved the chairmen of two new parliamentary committees. Giorgi Asanidze and political newcomer Nugzar Tsiklauri, both from the ruling party, were approved as the chairmen of the committees on sports and youth issues and on reintegration and diaspora issues, respectively.

There will be a total of 15 parliamentary committees in the new parliament. Ruling party MPs were elected as chairpersons of 13 of them at a session on June 11.