On September 14, a surveillance measure that President Zourabichvili vetoed on June 22 was signed by Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament. The Speaker asserted that neither the Venice Commission, the President, nor any actor claimed that this law conflicts with any European law, adding that it is exceptional when the President does not sign the measure despite being overruled. "There is no reason not to sign the bill in this situation if the Parliament, as the highest legislative body, supports its decision and does not share the words [by the president]," he said.
On June 22, Caucasus Watch reported that Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, vetoed contentious changes to the Criminal Procedure Code that the Georgian Dream Parliament passed on June 7. These modifications broadened the sorts of offences and durations for which covert investigation operations are permissible. Zourabichvili made the announcement at the special briefing on June 22 and stated that her veto is the first she has issued since taking office in 2018.
Moreover, the President promised to veto any controversial legislation in the next six months, despite the fact that Georgian Dream lawmakers would override her veto. This was a subtle signal that the Georgian Dream Government has a deadline to meet the requirements of the EU in order to maintain its candidate status in the 27-member bloc. "No legislation can be enacted today that further limits human rights since we are being urged to provide additional guarantees in this area to become more democratic and European," said Zourabichvili.
