Georgian President vetoes amendments to Election Commission member election regulations
In her comments, Zourabichvili said the changes failed to improve the role of her office in the appointments, leaving it “limited”. Photo: Presidential Administration
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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday vetoed amendments to the election code, approved by the Parliament, that stipulated 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.
The changes involved a 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 is transferred to the President’s office.
In her comments, Zourabichvili said the changes failed to improve the role of her office in the appointments, leaving it “limited”.
[The proposal] cannot substantially change the degree of involvement and role of the President, because there is a very low probability that the Parliament of Georgia will not be able to elect a candidate twice with a majority of [76 votes]”, the statement said.
Zourabichvili’s 11-page substantiation of her veto was sent to the Parliament and also cited recommendations by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights as motivating her decision.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said it was “principally important” to prevent both direct and indirect foreign financing of political entities in Georgia to “safeguard state sovereignty”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday reviewed the pre-election environment in the country with the International Pre-election Assessment Mission of the United States-based National Democratic Institute.
Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker, on Monday said changes to the domestic election code would give the country the “same electoral administration” as the ones found in European countries.
The Georgian Central Election Commission on Thursday said it welcomed the involvement of international observer organisations in the general elections set for October in the country.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili was engaged in a “campaign” aimed at “discrediting” the country’s election administration, after Zourabichvili vetoed amendments to regulations on elections of the Chair and members of the Central Election Commission.
Guðni Jóhannesson, the President of Iceland who is on a visit to Georgia, on Tuesday said he welcomed the country’s desire to join the “Euro-Atlantic alliance” and vowed his country’s support for the process.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili vetoing amendments to the regulations for electing members of the Central Election Commission was “aimed at preparing the ground for the opposition United National Movement party and its clones” to dispute results of the parliamentary elections in October.
Tea Tsulukiani, the Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, on Wednesday claimed Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili was “directly involved” in “revolutionary efforts” in the country ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October, and added she would increase the alleged efforts in the remaining months.