Georgia - March 2024
Electoral changes go through over presidential veto
Parliament voted to override a presidential veto and change Georgia’s electoral code on 19 March, transferring the authority to nominate candidates for the Chairman and members of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) from the president to the speaker of the parliament and lowering the threshold for parliamentary approval. The amendments also abolish the position of Deputy Chairman, which was the formal representative of the parliamentary opposition in the CEC. Opposition political parties and domestic CSOs argued the amendments damage the CEC’s neutrality, are contrary to the conditions of its European Union membership application and contradict recommendations from the Venice Commission. The ruling Georgian Dream party argued the changes were necessary to prevent the opposition from “sabotaging” the CEC before this year’s elections.
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