Georgia's speaker on Monday overrode the president's veto of a divisive bill that sparked weeks of mass protests by critics who see it as a threat to democratic freedoms and the country's aspirations to join the European Union. I swore to do it.
TBILISI, Georgia — The speaker of Georgia's parliament on Monday rejected the president's veto of a divisive bill that has sparked weeks of mass protests by critics who see it as a threat to democratic freedoms and the country's aspirations to join the European Union. I vowed to overturn it.
The bill, passed by Congress earlier this month, would require media outlets, non-governmental organizations and other nonprofit organizations to register as “promoting foreign interests” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. It is mandatory.
The opposition has denounced the bill as a “Russia law” after the Russian government used similar bills to crack down on independent media, non-profits and activists critical of the Kremlin. The government says it is needed to thwart malign foreign influence in Russian politics and stop unspecified foreign actors from trying to destabilize the country.
Georgian President Salome Zurabichvili, who is at odds with the ruling Georgian Dream party, vetoed the bill on Saturday, but the ruling party did not have enough of a majority to override the presidential veto. There is.
“Of course, the parliament will override this veto,” Shalva Papuashvili, speaker of parliament and Georgia Dream lawmaker, told reporters on Monday. He said Congress would meet next week to do so.
The bill that sparked protests this year is almost identical to the one that Georgian Dream was pressured to withdraw last year after street protests. A resurgence of demonstrations in Georgia has sparked weeks of chaos, with demonstrators clashing with police who used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds.
The bill also received criticism from European Union authorities. In a joint statement on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “The Georgian government and ruling party are acting contrary to common European values and the aspirations of the Georgian people and are deviating from this path. expressed deep regret over the decision. such as through the adoption of the so-called “Transparency of Foreign Influences” law. ”
“Georgia's path to Europe is set, but the speed and direction of progress depends on Georgia,” a statement posted on Facebook said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Monday that more than 60% of Georgians support the bill and that “common sense among the majority of the population should prevail,” without disclosing the source of the figure. He also did not reveal himself. Please provide evidence to support your claim.
He also accused Zurabichvili of “blocking out all room for discussion.”
“Our proposal to our international partners was to use the veto procedure to adjust positions, but Salome Zurabichvili's rude veto of this law unfortunately prevented healthy debate. All space was blocked,” Kobakhidze said.
