TBILISI, DFWatch – The de facto parliament of Georgia’s breakaway republic Abkhazia has elected a Speaker of Parliament.

The first session of the new breakaway Abkhazian parliament was held yesterday, April 3.

Valery Bganba was elected as new Speaker of Parliament. According to Ekho Kavkaza, he supervised the administration of the Gagra district. He was then elected member of parliament (MP) in 2007 and re-elected now in 2012.

In 2011, he was given an award for his great contribution to the establishment and strengthening of the Abkhaz statehood, and improvement of the legislation of the country, Russian online media writes.

The Abkhazian news agency Apsny Press writes that the new Speaker of Parliament will be happy to see a constructive opposition in parliament, as he says ‘without opposition any democratic country can not develop.’

33 newly elected MPs participated in the first session of new de facto parliament. They elected four vice speakers of parliament.

Bganba said the election of four vice speakers is explained by the need to develop contacts with legislative bodies in other countries, and frequent business trips.

Abkhazia held a second round of parliament elections on March 24. 13 MPs were elected in the first round on March 10. The elections were done by the first past the post system, creating the need for a second round in some precincts.