Shalva Papuashvili Condemns President's Veto as an Attack and Interference in Elections
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, March 7, 2024
The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, has stated that the President's veto on the Election Code is preparation for the United National Movement to not recognize the results of the 2024 parliamentary elections. Shalva Papuashvili accused the opposition, President Salome Zourabichvili, several non-governmental organizations, and some foreign actors of being involved in a direct attack and interference in the election process.
"The veto is part of the attack that is carried out not only on the CEC chairman or the CEC; it is an attack on the parliamentary elections. This is the preparation of the ground so that, traditionally, the United National Movement and its clones do not recognize the elections... We see that the opposition, Salome Zourabichvili, several non-governmental organizations, and among them, some foreign actors are involved in this. This is a direct attack and interference in the election process," Papuashvili stated.
Also, according to Papuashvili, in her motivational remarks, the President suggested not sharing some of the recommendations.
"From here, the conclusion is drawn that these recommendations were not something from which deviation could not occur," Papuashvili said.
Parliament Chairman addressed concerns about the continuation of what he perceives as an ineffective or dysfunctional system in the context of elections. He criticized some foreign actors for advocating to maintain this system, arguing that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process. Papuashvili believes that such discussions not only perpetuate the current problems but also provide a justification for the radical opposition to refuse to accept electoral defeat.
"Regarding this absurdity, unfortunately, some foreign actors insist that such an absurd situation, in which we have been living for 2 years and which does not work, everyone has seen that it does not work, should be left in force. Those who advise us to retain the old system in force, avoid changing the qualified majority, and refrain from canceling the possibility of an opposition deputy assuming the duties of the chairman, whether they are Georgians or foreigners, are essentially pushing us towards discrediting the elections. I urge all actors-Georgian and foreign-to consider that such conversations serve as encouragement to the radical opposition, providing them with an excuse not to admit defeat in the elections," Papuashvili stated.
As he claims, the representatives of the opposition also agree that during the discussion on the April 19 agreement, the regulations concerning the 'qualified majority' and the "oppositional deputy of the CEC chairman" were written by the mediator.
Papuashvili stated that they are called upon to fulfill the recommendation of the Venice Commission, which points to the fulfillment of the annulled agreement of April 19.
"There is no April 19 agreement; it's the same as if you quit your job and your employer points you to an old agreement that no longer exists. Referring to it is an expert error, and clinging to this agreement is grist to the mill of radicals," Papauashvili stated.
