EU official Borell: adoption of Georgian election bill is a ‘key moment’ for promotion of political pluralism
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High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell Fontelles, has welcomed the adoption of the constitutional amendments by the Georgian parliament yesterday.
Adoption of constitutional amendments by the Parliament of Georgia is a key moment in the promotion of greater political pluralism in the country in view of upcoming elections. Congratulations to all! The EU will continue to stand by Georgia in its further election preparations https://t.co/N2sxu3jChn
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 29, 2020
117 MPs voted for the bill which was drafted per the March 8 election agreement between the Georgian Dream ruling party and the united opposition, in talks mediated by the diplomatic corps.
The European Georgia and the United National Movement opposition parties refused to participate in the vote.
MEP Marina Kaljurand, who chairs the delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee, and the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Georgia MEP Sven Mikser have welcomed the adoption of the Georgian election bill yesterday, stating that the passing of the constitutional amendments is ‘an important milestone in the development of Georgia’s democratic life.’
The Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has signed the bill of amendments to the election system, calling the constitutional changes a serious step towards democracy and stability. The Georgian parliament has passed an election bill drafted with the mediation of the diplomatic corps in its third and final reading earlier today.
The US Department of State and the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Georgia, have welcomed the ‘historic adoption’ of constitutional amendments by the Georgian parliament earlier today.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that through the passing of the election bill earlier today, ‘Georgia has taken another important step to ensure its European and Euro-Atlantic future.’"The new electoral system which was adopted demonstrates the Georgian Dream's strong will to consistently implement the most important changes for the country, which no other political force has been able to achieve, and which serves to further consolidate a European parliamentary democracy in Georgia,” Gakharia said.
The Georgian parliament has passed the election bill drafted with the mediation of the diplomatic corps in its third and final reading earlier today. 117 MPs voted for and three went against the bill which will institute a more proportional electoral system for this autumn’s parliamentary elections. The United National Movement and European Georgia opposition parties refused to participate in the vote, stating that with the continued incarceration of the co-founder of opposition-minded TV channel Giorgi Rurua, the ruling party ‘did not fully abide by the March 8 election agreement.’
Member of the European Parliament, Co-President of the Euronest PA, Andrius Kubilius has welcomed the adoption of Georgian constitutional amendments on June 29 which will ensure more proportional electoral system for the autumn parliamentary elections.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has welcomed the adoption of Georgian constitutional amendments on June 29, calling on the Georgian parliament ‘to honour the will of the Georgian people and the pledge of Georgian officials related to the implementation of internationally recommended election reforms.’