The Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili, has announced her intention to veto the recently adopted amendments to the Election Code by the Georgian Parliament.
The majority adopted changes to the election code, which are in contradiction with the 9 recommendations of the Venice Commission and the European Union. With the adopted changes, the CEC staffing process became completely fictitious, adjusted only to the political interest of the ruling party, – reads the statement issued by the presidential administration.
As stated, the President of Georgia will veto the amendments to the Electoral Code, as well as any law that is not in line with the country’s European path.
“Today, when the new Prime Minister is in Brussels on his first international visit and when there is an international observation mission in the country, the Parliament of Georgia, the ruling majority, adopted changes in the election code, which contradicts both the Venice Commission and the 9 recommendations of the European Union.
“Instead of the head and members of the election commission to be selected and elected by broad consensus, with the adopted changes, the process of staffing the CEC has become completely fictitious, which is only adjusted to the political interest of the ruling party.
“There was a risk that the elections would be conducted by a one-party, biased election administration that is controlled by the ruling party, which would lead to mistrust of the process, both among the public and international community.
“As she has said many times, the President of Georgia will veto the amendments to the Election Code, as well as any law that is not in line with the country’s European path!”, reads the statement.
The Parliament, without considering the recommendations of the Venice Commission, adopted changes in the Election Code. Voting in the Parliament was held on February 20.
The changes envisage the abolition of the position of the deputy chairman of the CEC elected by the opposition quota.
