Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Sunday called for sweeping reforms as the country prepares for parliamentary elections amid a political crisis over a “foreign influence” law that rights groups have condemned as repressive.
Zourabichvili, a pro-Western politician who is at odds with the ruling Georgian Dream conservative party, is seeking to build a united opposition front as the country prepares for parliamentary elections in October.
The election is seen as a key test of the country’s democracy and European ambitions.
Zourabishvili said Georgia needed to “create a new political reality” and called on pro-EU parties to back his vision for far-reaching electoral, judicial and law enforcement reforms so that EU accession talks with Brussels “can start as soon as possible.”
She also said the interim multiparty government and the newly elected parliament must repeal several laws adopted by Georgian Dream that are “harmful to Georgia’s European course.”
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In addition, measures such as releasing political prisoners and ensuring the independence of the judiciary must be taken before next year’s elections.
Several opposition parties were swift to back Zourabichvili’s proposal, which was announced outside the presidential palace in Tbilisi on Georgia’s Independence Day.
The Georgian Dream faces accusations of derailing the country from its path to EU membership and returning it to Russia’s sphere of influence.
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The party holds a majority in parliament and is expected next week to override President Zourabichvili’s veto of a foreign influence bill that was passed in April and sparked weeks of mass protests and international condemnation.
The law requires NGOs and media that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from overseas to register as operating “in the interests of a foreign power.”
Critics have charged that the measures are similar to Russian laws used to silence dissent, while the EU has warned that they are “incompatible” with Tbilisi’s long-standing bid for EU membership.
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The goal of joining the EU and NATO is enshrined in Georgia’s constitution and opinion polls show that it is supported by more than 80% of the population.
The United States has warned that it will impose sanctions on Georgia if the Georgian parliament overrides Zourabishvili’s veto.
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