In Georgia, President Salomé Zourabichvili vetoed the very controversial law on “foreign agents”. This is a surprise, as she had hinted that she would use the full legal deadline of two weeks to do so. This so-called “transparency of foreign influence” law was adopted at third reading on May 15, after more than a month of daily demonstrations.
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With our correspondent in Tbilisi, Régis Genté
These gatherings brought together up to 80,000 people, which is enormous for this country of 3.7 million inhabitants, shouting no to ” Russian law », the text being inspired by the law adopted in Russia in 2012 and which proved to be liberticidal.
Salomé Zourabichvili explained her choice to veto just three days after the vote on the law by the fact that there is nothing to change. According to the Georgian Constitution, the veto imposed by the head of state must be accompanied by remarks to amend the text.
This law ” must be removed »
But in this case, explained Salomé Zourabichvili this “ law cannot be improved “, She ” must be removed “. The president thus wants to say that this text contrary to the values of Europe serves primarily to force Brussels to break ties with the Georgiawhat the ruling party is seeking, which cannot accept a break with the European Union (EU) when 80% of Georgians say they want to become members.
She also wants to underline the vocation of this text to establish an authoritarian regime in Georgia and to bring it back into the Russian orbit. Many this Saturday evening seemed satisfied with the Georgian president’s decision, because they feared that she would be drawn into a negotiation with the ruling Georgian Dream party of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, as well as European officials. seemed to encourage him.
This veto offers the government a “ moment of deeper reflection “, declared the President of the European Council Charles Michel on Saturday on the social network I call on all Georgian politicians and leaders to make good use of this window of opportunity and ensure that Georgia remains on the European path supported by the people “, he said.
🇬🇪President Salome @Zourabichvili_S‘s veto of the transparency law offers a moment for further reflection. In its current form – the law is not in line with EU values and path.
I call on all politicians and leaders in Georgia to make good use of this window of opportunity and…
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) May 18, 2024
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