Georgian Parliament overrides President's veto on amendments to election code

The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday overrode Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto on the amendments to the election code, approved by the Parliament, that stipulated the transfer of the power to elect the Chair and members of the Central Election Commission to the President if the legislative body failed to elect them in two attempts.

With 78 votes and 13 against, the legislative body supported the original version of the draft law at a plenary session, not considering Zourabichvili’s motivated remarks on the bill, the Parliament press office said.

The changes involve the stipulation whereby if the Parliament fails to elect a candidate to the Chair by a three-fifths majority, and again by 76 votes twice, the decision shall be transferred to the President’s office.

In her decision to veto the bill, Zourabichili explained that the changes failed to improve the role of her office in the appointments, leaving it “limited”.

President’s veto was criticised by the ruling Georgian Dream team, with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claiming that Zourabichvili was engaged in a “campaign” aimed at “discrediting” the country’s election administration.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili also said Zourabichvili’s veto on the amendments was “aimed at preparing the ground for the opposition United National Movement party and its clones” to dispute the results of the parliamentary elections in October.