Georgia Parliament votes to override presidential veto
Georgia’s parliament has voted to override a presidential veto of the controversial ‘foreign influence’ law, a move that is set to derail the aspirations of many Georgians in the EU for closer ties with Moscow. The divisive bill, which requires civil society organizations and media outlets that receive more than 20% of their income from abroad to register as ‘organizations serving the interests of a foreign power’, was approved by parliament earlier this month.
President Salomé Zourabichvili vetoes the law
President Salomé Zourabichvili later vetoed the law, which she and other critics say is based on a 2012 Russian bill used to repress pro-Western groups. But on Tuesday, the Georgian parliament, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, voted to override his veto, setting the stage for the president to sign the bill in the coming days.
Opposition to the bill
Thousands of opponents of the bill demonstrated outside the parliament building on Tuesday afternoon, waving Georgian and EU flags. Zourabichvili addressed the crowd via video conference and asked: ‘Do we want a European future or Russian slavery?’ He called on protesters to mobilize in the run-up to the October election, saying: ‘You are angry today, aren’t you? Be angry, but gentle in the work. The point is that we have to prepare, first of all, for a real referendum.’
EU concern
The EU has said the law will be an obstacle to the country’s accession to the bloc, a goal supported by up to 80% of the electorate. In a statement Tuesday night, the EU said it ‘deeply regrets’ the vote to override the veto and was considering all options. ‘The EU has repeatedly stressed that the law adopted by the Georgian parliament goes against the fundamental principles and values of the EU,’ he stressed.
Possible loss of Georgia candidate status
The EU offered Georgia candidate status last December, while noting that Tbilisi needed to implement key policy recommendations for its members to move forward. Responding to Tuesday’s vote, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanian Foreign Minister, said: ‘A very sad day for Georgia and the rest of Europe. The approval of this law effectively puts Georgia’s accession to the EU on hold, with no benefit to anyone.’
EU protests and warnings
The legislation has brought hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, in recent months. They accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party of trying to smear dissenting voices as traitors and block the country’s aspirations for EU membership. Just a few days ago, the EU warned that it would take drastic measures if the Georgian parliament passed the ‘foreign agents’ bill.
Consequences for Georgia
The passage of this law and the possible loss of Georgia’s EU candidate status could have serious consequences for the country. The relationship with the EU would be affected and aspirations for greater integration with Moscow could be frustrated. In addition, protests and internal opposition could increase, creating a climate of political tension in Georgia.