The Speaker of the Parliament condemned the recent veto by the President on amendments to the Election Code. According to Shalva Papuashvili, this is “a calculated move aimed at undermining the credibility of parliamentary elections”.

As he said, this veto is not merely an attack on the Central Election Commission or its Chairman but represents a broader assault on the democratic process itself.

“The United National Movement and its affiliates is orchestrating a systematic campaign to delegitimize election outcomes. The veto serves as groundwork for the familiar pattern of refusal to recognize election results, a tactic long employed by the UNM and its derivatives”, - said Shalva Papuashvili.

Highlighting past instances where the UNM failed to acknowledge electoral defeats, the Speaker underscored their persistence in contesting mandates through prolonged disputes.

He characterized the current situation as a continuation of this trend, with various actors, including foreign entities, allegedly complicit in undermining electoral integrity: “This concerted effort to discredit the electoral process constitutes a direct assault on democratic norms and constitutes unwarranted interference”.