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Parliament Did Not Pass Amendments to the Gambling Law

May 2, 2013

Tata Kachkachishvili, Kutaisi

Draft-amendments to the Gambling Law of Georgia could not receive 59 votes – necessary for quorum. 46 supporters vs 44 votes – it was results of the ballot at the parliamentary session of May 1. The debates on the draft-amendments lasted more than 1 hour and part of parliamentary majority also did not support it together with parliamentary minority members.

In parallel to the fraction United National Movement, the following fractions refused to support the bill: Georgian Dream- Free Democrats and Georgian Dream – Republicans.

As the initiator and author of the draft law, majority MP Koba Davitashvili clarified the draft law has been submitted to Parliament for discussion at second hearing.  “Government had technical notes with regard to the bill and we corrected them;  also the notions of “economic agent” and “violator” were clarified and estimated amount of fine is 10 000 lari instead of previous 5-10 thousand lari.

Parliamentary minority MP Goga Khachidze requested suspension of the draft law, as, according to him, it would be inadmissible to adopt the given draft law during the given period of year as it would significantly damage media outlets and companies operating in advertisement business.

Another minority MP Zurab Japaridze described the draft law as ineffective.  Member of the United National Movement faction believes that it would be impossible to administer adopted law as the State does not have levers to control Internet space; in addition, it would create economic stagnation.  “This law will not be effective; we do not support it due to several reasons including economic reasons as it will cause losses in the given field.”

Chairman of the Fraction “Georgian Dream – Free Democrats” Irakli Chikovani requested to regulate the field and develop a liberal draft law.  Representative of the Parliamentary majority says that “the draft law does not regulate many details so we cannot support it.”

Deputy Chairman of the Fraction “Georgian Dream – Republicans” Tinatin Khidasheli proposed to the Parliament to discuss their approach to gambling games: are they going to liberate or restrict it:  “Authors of the draft law must conceptually present their vision about positive outcome from restricted advertisements on gambling business; particularly when here is high risk on the other hand.”
 
MP Zakaria Kutsnashvili from majority found it acceptable to continue discussion of the draft law with corrections if it comes into force from 1 January 2014 in order to allow companies to plan next budgetary year.

Author of the legislative initiative and of the draft law Koba Davitashvili described the situation about the bill as nondemocratic process.  He said MPs had made inadequate remarks and they should have made them during the first hearing:  “I do not know what happened between the first and second hearings; why the approach to the concept changed.”  He said that he will start gathering signatures starting next week to hold referendum on his legislative initiative.

“Parliament does not accept my draft law. That is why I will start gathering signatures next week.  As far as I know 200 000 signatures are necessary to hold referendum so population will be able to answer the question on the Presidential elections:  Shall gambling games be prohibited in Georgia or not?!  I am sure absolute majority of population will vote for prohibition,” Koba Davitashvili noted.

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