Parliament Adopts Amendments to Broadcasting Law

The Parliament of Georgia approved amendments to the Law on Broadcasting with its third and final reading, which gives Georgia’s state-financed Public Broadcaster (GPB) more independency and power.

The legislative amendments were approved with 63 votes in favor and 3 against, on December 22.

The changes envisage granting the GPB rights on commercial advertising. Also, the broadcaster will no longer have to announce public procurement calls when purchasing media products or services, as it has been lifted from its obligation to observe the Law on Public Procurement.

Furthermore, as a result of the amendments, the powers of the nine-member Board of Trustees have been reduced, now they will need the Director General’s consent to carry out reforms.

The GPB, whose financing increases proportionally to the state budget, will no longer have to return unused funds to the state budget. It has also been given the right to finance start-ups and innovative television, radio and online products.

This year, the broadcaster received around 46.4 million GEL from the state, while in 2016, it was financed by 44.5 million. According to the budget of 2018, the funding of the GPB will be increased by 5.695 million lari and will amount to 52.100 million GEL.

The opposition, private media outlets and NGOs have criticized the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party for adopting changes to the Law on Broadcasting, saying granting advertising rights to the GPB will harm the media environment in the country, and the broadcaster should no longer receive funding from the state budget after the amendments.

They also held meetings with the President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, and asked him to veto the controversial bill.

In case the President vetoes the bill, the ruling team can either approve presidential remarks, or override the veto, as has happened many times.

Georgian Dream has 116 MPs in a 150-member legislative body. In order to overcome the presidential veto, the votes of at least 76 MPs are needed.

By Thea Morrison