President blocks dialogue  with veto: Prime Minister

Tbilisi: A political storm is brewing as Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze  accuses President Salome Zurabishvili of obstructing dialogue by vetoing the foreign agents’ law. The President, in defense of her actions, argues that the law could impede Georgia’s European Integration.

PM’s reaction came during the government meeting on May 20 after the president on  May 18 veto of the Foreign Agents Bill. Prime Minister further accused the president of “closing all space for healthy discussion.” He further alleged that   “our   international partners use this  veto procedure to reconcile positions, but Salome Zurabishvili blatantly vetoed the law.”

He also claims that over 60 percent of Georgians support the law. At the same time more than 80 percent of citizens favor the transparency of the NGOs receiving foreign funding.

The opposition is striving for the “Ukrainization of Georgia.” Amid the war in Ukraine, politicians and officials are enriching themselves, and corruption is flourishing, which has hindered the progress of the country for a long time.

It is to be mentioned explicitly that President Salome Zurabishvili said on May 18, while vetoing the bill, “ The bill in its essence and spirit is a Russian law that contradicts our Constitution and all European standards. If the bill is passed in its present form, this will create an obstacle to our European path. The move came earlier than expected as the president can hold any bill for up to two weeks before using the veto power regarding any bill.

The bill will now undergo a reconsideration process in parliament and will require the President’s assent once again. With the spring session of Parliament set to recess until September, the Georgian Dream party faces a crucial decision: whether to   override the veto in a special session before September, or wait until the end of the recess. The anti bill protest are still going on.