European People’s Party ‘deeply concerned’ by bill stripping opposition parties of state funding
EPP urges Georgia 'to find a compromise solution which would benefit all Georgian citizens'. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The European People’s Party (EPP) is ‘deeply concerned’ by the recent legislative initiative of a recent bill proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party that would strip parties of state funding if they refuse to take up their mandates in parliament.
This, EPP said, is ‘directed against the biggest opposition party’ - the United National Movement (UNM) - ‘that is supported by one third of the Georgian population’.
We urge Georgia to continue moving towards declared EU values, and instead of restricting the democratic right of the opposition to return to constructive dialogue, to find a compromise solution which would benefit all Georgian citizens.
— EPP (@EPP) December 23, 2020
The Georgian Dream-initiated bill says that if political parties refuse to take up their mandates in parliament they will not receive state funding (or have it suspended for a year), their MPs will not receive salaries and they will not be able to use free media time during municipal and parliamentary elections.
Eight opposition parties and election blocs which refuse to take up their parliamentary mandates claiming that October 31 elections have been rigged say the ruling party is now trying to make them enter the parliament with this bill.
Earlier today, the United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan also denounced the bill hoping that it will be revised before the final approval. Ambassador Degnan meanwhile noted that she does not welcome any bill which may create problems for the opposition’s development and restrict their access to media.