However, this is a highly symbolic veto because the ruling party, Georgian Dream, at the origin of the law, claims to have enough votes in Parliament to override it.
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Salomé Zourabichvili denounces a law “Russian in its essence, and which contradicts our Constitution”. The President of Georgia announced on Saturday May 18 that she had vetoed the controversial law on “foreign influence”, which targets the media and NGOs receiving foreign funds. The text adopted Tuesday by Parliament is denounced by its detractors as aiming to divert Georgia from Europe and drag it towards Russia.
The Georgian president, pro-European and former French diplomat, is in open conflict with the government. However, this is a highly symbolic veto, because the ruling party, Georgian Dream, at the origin of the law, claims to have enough votes in Parliament to override it.
The law, inspired by legislation in force in Russia to suppress the opposition, sparked mass protests in the Caucasus country. The demonstrations have lasted for more than a month and brought together considerable crowds. Some 30,000 people gathered on Wednesday in the center of the capital Tbilisi, the day after the adoption of the text.
This veto offers the government a “moment of deeper reflection”reacted the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. “I call on all Georgian politicians and leaders to make good use of this window of opportunity and ensure that Georgia remains on the European path supported by the people”he declared on X.
