The News in Brief
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Chairman of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili Signs Amendments to Election Code
The Chairman of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, signed the amendments to the election code, which changed the procedure for electing the chairman and members of the CEC and abolished the position of the CEC deputy with the opposition quota.
President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the bill, but Parliament overcame it and supported the option initiated by the ruling party. Shalva Papuashvili then signed this supported option into law.
"Today, I signed the law on the amendment to the 'Election Code', which will give the Parliament of Georgia the opportunity to overcome the impasse created by the 'April 19 Agreement' for almost three years and to elect professional members and the chairman of the CEC.
The previously valid regulation - electing CEC members by a 2/3 majority and appointing an opposition politician as the alternate chairman-does not exist in any country. It should also be mentioned that this strange rule was not developed based on dialogue between the parties, but was a persistent idea of the mediator, which, in fact, did not work and could not work, especially in the limited time remaining before the next elections," wrote Shalva Papuashvili.
Papuashvili suggested that the opposition might leverage the deadlock situation to justify their refusal to acknowledge the election results.
EU Integration Commission of Georgia Approves 2024 EU Integration Plan
At the 71st session of the European Union Integration Commission of Georgia, the 2024 action plan for Georgia's integration into the European Union was approved. The session was held under the leadership of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The action plan was developed with the involvement of all agencies and encompasses all directions outlined in the association agreement.
The session also heard the annual report on the implementation of the 2023 action plan for Georgia's integration into the European Union.
The prospects of integration into the European single market, based on the principles of a deep and comprehensive free trade space, were discussed at the meeting.
The meeting also discussed the action plan comprising nine priorities defined by the European Council, new requirements related to Georgia's membership in the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA), and effective measures necessary for planning, implementing, and monitoring the process of legal convergence with the European Union.
Chairman of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili Signs Amendments to Election Code
President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the bill, but Parliament overcame it and supported the option initiated by the ruling party. Shalva Papuashvili then signed this supported option into law.
"Today, I signed the law on the amendment to the 'Election Code', which will give the Parliament of Georgia the opportunity to overcome the impasse created by the 'April 19 Agreement' for almost three years and to elect professional members and the chairman of the CEC.
The previously valid regulation - electing CEC members by a 2/3 majority and appointing an opposition politician as the alternate chairman-does not exist in any country. It should also be mentioned that this strange rule was not developed based on dialogue between the parties, but was a persistent idea of the mediator, which, in fact, did not work and could not work, especially in the limited time remaining before the next elections," wrote Shalva Papuashvili.
Papuashvili suggested that the opposition might leverage the deadlock situation to justify their refusal to acknowledge the election results.
EU Integration Commission of Georgia Approves 2024 EU Integration Plan
The session also heard the annual report on the implementation of the 2023 action plan for Georgia's integration into the European Union.
The prospects of integration into the European single market, based on the principles of a deep and comprehensive free trade space, were discussed at the meeting.
The meeting also discussed the action plan comprising nine priorities defined by the European Council, new requirements related to Georgia's membership in the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA), and effective measures necessary for planning, implementing, and monitoring the process of legal convergence with the European Union.