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13-5-24, leGrandContinent
TODAY: GEORGIA’S MAKE-OR-BREAK MOMENT   
CRUNCH TIME FOR CONTROVERSIAL LAW: Georgian lawmakers are today expected to push through the Russian-style “foreign agents” law that prompted the biggest wave of protests in the country since its independence from the Soviet Union. EU governments are scrambling to prepare a collective response, but Hungary was obstructing agreement on a joint statement condemning the law, according to Playbook’s sources.
What’s at stake: The law is seen as an attempt by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which was founded by a pro-Russian billionaire, to sabotage the country’s path to joining the EU. About 80 percent of Georgians are in favor of EU accession, and huge numbers of them have taken to the streets of Tbilisi in recent weeks to voice their opposition to the legislation.
The government “has lost the confidence of the people,” said Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s independent president, in support of the peaceful protests. “It’s very funny when politicians pretend to be able to count with high IQs and they can’t count how many people there were” out on the streets.
Rubber-stamped: Despite the widespread public opposition, lawmakers in Georgia’s parliament rushed through a procedural step on Monday. It took just 67 seconds for the bill to be reviewed and approved by the parliament’s legal committee, allowing it to move on today to the full assembly, which is controlled by Georgian Dream.
What about the presidential veto? Zourabichvili has said she will veto the law — but parliament can override that with a simple majority.
Brussels rushes to react: EU governments were coordinating a joint response last night, diplomats told Playbook. But Hungary, aided by Slovakia, opposed a joint EU statement condemning the law, according to people involved in the discussions.
Orbán strikes again: Diplomats were clambering for an agreement, hoping that weakening the phrasing of the statement might persuade Hungary to back it. But the sources said it was more likely that a statement would come from foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell (which does not require unanimity) than from the EU27.
Better late than never: According to a letter obtained by Playbook, a dozen EU foreign affairs ministers urged Borrell on Friday to “send an unequivocal message to Tbilisi that this legislation is incompatible with Georgia’s progress on its EU path” via an “oral update” on Georgia’s EU accession.
“We kindly ask you to undertake this as a matter of priority and to make sure that this public assessment appears before the final vote at the Georgian parliament,” said the letter, which was signed by the foreign affairs ministers of Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.
“It’s clearly too late for that now,” said one diplomat of the request, “but at least we should be prepared to react quickly after the vote.”
Call for sanctions: In the European Parliament, MEPs representing the EPP, S&D, Greens and Renew have written to Borrell urging him to prepare “targeted” sanctions against Georgian Dream politicians who pushed the foreign agents law — including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze — and the MPs who vote for it.
What’s next: Young Georgians have vowed to keep defying their increasingly violent government with mass protests and strikes.
14-5-24, politico
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