Legislation Imposes Party Ban, Gaining Unanimous Approval in Parliament
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Georgia's Parliament has cracked down on the political circle with a fresh legislative package, aimed at banning political parties and implementing more stringent regulations, in a 79-0 vote during its second reading.
This legislative package takes a swipe at so-called 'successor parties,' that share striking similarities with outlawed parties. The new law grants the Constitutional Court the power to shut down parties whose declared purpose, essence of activities, and personnel composition mirror those of a previously prohibited organization [1][5].
One significant change emerging from the second reading is the slashing of the decision deadline for the Constitutional Court to just 14 days, regardless of whether it's an election season or not. In contrast, the previous law allowed up to nine months for non-election periods [1].
MP Tornike Cheishvili of the ruling party cheered the deadline, commenting, "This is a no-brainer deadline. The Court has already ruled on the parent party, so identifying the successor's activity and composition won't be a chunky task."
This package revises both the 'Law on Political Unions of Citizens' and the 'Law on the Constitutional Court,' and is now prepped for its final reading [2].
This new law is causing quite a paradigm shift in Georgia's political landscape. Here's what you need to know about it:
🔹 Expanded Authority of the Constitutional Court: The legislation fortifies the Constitutional Court's authority to ban a political party if its declared aims, activities, or personnel composition mirror those of a previously banned party [1][5].
🔹 Strict Deadline: The Constitutional Court must issue a decision on the constitutionality of a party within 14 days, regardless of whether it is an election or non-election period [1].
🔹 Banning Criteria: A party can be banned if its goals include overthrowing the constitutional order violently, undermining national independence, violating territorial integrity, engaging in war propaganda, inciting strife, or creating armed formations [4].
🔹 Restrictions on Successor Parties: Members of outlawed parties are prohibited from establishing new parties with similar objectives or personnel [4].
This new law is stirring quite a few controversies. Some experts argue that it is a move towards further consolidating authoritarian systems in Georgia, while others worry about its implications on opposition parties [3][4]. The United National Movement and other opposition forces might be targeted under this legislation, potentially leading to their further marginalization [5]. Additionally, political parties will be barred from receiving donations from Georgian or foreign entities without prior government approval [4].
- The new legislative package in Georgia's political landscape, passed during the second reading of the Parliament, aims to revise both the 'Law on Political Unions of Citizens' and the 'Law on the Constitutional Court,' with one of its key changes being the expanded authority of the Constitutional Court to ban political parties if their declared aims, activities, or personnel composition mirror those of a previously banned party.
- MP Tornike Cheishvili, from the ruling party, cheered the new deadline, commenting that it is a 'no-brainer deadline' since the Court has already ruled on the parent party, making it easier to identify the successor's activity and composition.
- The new law stipulates a strict deadline, with the Constitutional Court now required to issue a decision on the constitutionality of a party within 14 days, regardless of whether it is an election or non-election period.
- This legislation also includes restrictions on successor parties, prohibiting members of outlawed parties from establishing new parties with similar objectives or personnel, and barring political parties from receiving donations from Georgian or foreign entities without prior government approval.
