President Salome Zourabichvili has vetoed a bill that would have labeled certain NGOs and media outlets as foreign agents.
The legislation, which was passed by parliament in July, would have required NGOs and media outlets that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Critics of the bill argued that it would have stifled dissent and freedom of the press.
In a statement explaining her veto, Zourabichvili said that the bill was unconstitutional and would have a negative impact on the country’s democratic development. She also said that the bill was not in line with Georgia’s international obligations.
The veto is a victory for civil society groups and independent media outlets in Georgia. However, it is unclear whether parliament will override the veto. A two-thirds majority is required to override a presidential veto.
Background
The foreign agent legislation was first proposed in 2019 by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The party argued that the legislation was necessary to prevent foreign interference in Georgian politics. However, critics of the bill said that it was a thinly veiled attempt to silence dissent.
The bill was passed by parliament in July despite strong opposition from civil society groups and independent media outlets. The bill was also criticized by the United States and the European Union.
Reaction
The veto of the foreign agent legislation has been welcomed by civil society groups and independent media outlets in Georgia. They say that the veto is a victory for freedom of speech and democracy.
However, the ruling Georgian Dream party has criticized the veto. The party says that the legislation is necessary to protect Georgia from foreign interference.
It is unclear whether parliament will override the veto. A two-thirds majority is required to override a presidential veto.
Conclusion
The veto of the foreign agent legislation is a significant victory for civil society groups and independent media outlets in Georgia. However, it is unclear whether parliament will override the veto. If the bill is overridden, it would have a significant impact on freedom of speech and democracy in Georgia.
Kind regards,
E. Thompson
