Georgia ? Lawmakers who back President Mikhail Saakashvili unanimously voted Friday to endorse his 15-day state of emergency, an indication the pro-Western leader may not go through with a pledge to end it swiftly.

Opposition lawmakers boycotted the 149-0 vote in the 235-seat parliament, which allows Saakashvili to keep independent TV news off the air for nearly two weeks, among other measures.

Saakashvili promised Thursday that he would quickly lift Wednesday’s emergency declaration and called early presidential elections for January, a response to domestic and global criticism of his move to emergency rule after days of demonstrations against him.

The parliamentary vote Friday was seen by some observers as an indication that the U.S.-backed president could keep the state of emergency in place for the full 15 days.