President's Veto on Election Code Changes is in Parliament for Consideration
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
The President presented motivated remarks regarding the changes in the Election Code to the Parliament.
During the March 5th Bureau session, the issue of the President's veto was referred to the Legal Affairs Committee. Following the committee's deliberation, the issue will be submitted to the plenary session for voting.
To override the veto, 76 votes are required, and the parliamentary majority has already agreed to support it.
In her motivational remarks, the President proposed to the Parliament that the authority to select and submit candidates for the CEC (Central Election Commission) chairman and membership be returned to the President of Georgia. This change was introduced in the election code last year when the authority of the president was transferred to the chairman of the parliament.
Additionally, with motivated remarks, Zourabichvili proposed to the Parliament the appointment of the Chairman of the CEC. A three-fifths majority shall be defined for the election of professional members. If a candidate fails to receive the votes of the majority of 3/5, the candidate with the majority of 1/2 shall be elected for a term of 6 months.
To ensure a high degree of trust in the CEC, the President emphasized the importance of retaining and equipping the deputy chairman elected from among the members of the CEC appointed by the opposition parties with appropriate powers.
Regarding the exercise of the authority of the CEC chairman in their absence, the President proposed to the parliament that this authority be exercised by the non-party deputy chairman elected by the parliament. In the absence of the non-party deputy chairman, the authority would then be exercised by the deputy appointed by the opposition quota in the CEC.
Amendments to the Election Code were adopted on February 20th. The new amendments to the Code envisage a change in the procedure for electing the CEC chairman and members and the cancellation of the post of the CEC deputy with the opposition quota.
