According to the administration of the President of Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili intends to exercise her veto power regarding the amendments to the Election Code, which were passed by the Parliament in the third and final reading on February 20.
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“Today, as the new Prime Minister embarks on his inaugural international visit to Brussels and with an international observation mission currently present in the country, the Parliament of Georgia, dominated by the ruling majority, has approved modifications to the electoral code that contradict both the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the 9 guidelines of the European Union.
Instead of appointing the head and members of the election commission through a broad consensus, as recommended, the adopted changes render the process of staffing the Central Election Commission (CEC) entirely fictitious, tailored solely to the political interests of the ruling party.
There was a palpable risk that the elections would be overseen by a one-sided, biased, and ruling-party-controlled electoral administration, leading to a loss of confidence in the electoral process both domestically and internationally.
As reiterated on numerous occasions, the President of Georgia will veto the amendments to the Election Code, along with any legislation that deviates from the country's European trajectory!” declared the Administration.
Overcoming the veto requires a majority vote of the full complement of Parliament, comprising at least 76 deputies, a threshold easily achievable for the Georgian Dream party.
Furthermore, the amendments made by the Parliament to the Election Code abolish the position of the deputy chairman of the Central Election Commission, a role currently occupied by Giorgi Sioridze of Lelo party. According to the revisions, in the absence of the CEC chairman and deputy, the duties of the chairman will be assumed by the CEC secretary instead of the opposition-appointed deputy.
The proposed legislation also alters the procedure for electing CEC members and the chairman. Initially, the election of a member and chairman will require the support of three-fifths (90 votes) of Parliament. Failing this, the support of 76 MPs will suffice in the second round of voting. If the candidates still fail to secure the necessary votes, a subsequent vote will be held, and the same number of deputies' support will be required. Only after this failure to elect a member/chairman of the CEC with 76 votes for the second time will the President be authorized to appoint candidates.
Furthermore, Georgian Dream disregarded the Venice Commission's recommendation to restore the authority to nominate non-partisan members of the CEC and the chairman, transferring this power from the chairman of Parliament back to the President of Georgia.
