Mikhail Kavelashvili. Photo: weukraine.tv.
Mikheil Kavelashvili: Georgia’s new president in crisis
Former footballer and member of the Georgian parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party, Mikheil Kavelashvili, has become the country’s new president. His candidacy was approved by the electoral college on Saturday, 14 December, marking the first time that the country has used the indirect presidential election procedure. According to the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing Vesty, this decision was the culmination of the political crisis that has engulfed the country.
The board consisted of 300 people, most of whom were representatives of the ruling party. To win, Kavelashvili needed to get at least 200 votes. According to official figures, he received 224 votes, which gave him a landslide victory.
A single candidate and a boycott of the opposition
There was no competition in the elections – Mikheil Kavelashvili was the only candidate for the presidency. The opposition did not nominate any representatives and boycotted the vote, as it does not recognise the legitimacy of the current parliament.
The incumbent President Salome Zurabishvili also condemned the elections, calling them a “travesty” and calling for new parliamentary elections. According to her, the country needs a legitimate government that will represent the interests of citizens and not protect the political interests of certain forces.
Anti-Western rhetoric and lack of education
This election has become a precedent not only because of its form, but also because of the personality of the winner. For the first time in Georgian history, a person without a university degree was elected president. Kavelashvili, a member of parliament of three convocations, has gained a reputation as a politician with anti-Western views.
He has repeatedly stated that there is a “global war party” in the US and EU that seeks to drag Georgia into a new conflict with Russia. Such statements have caused outrage among the opposition and the public, who believe that Georgia should remain on the European path.
Protests in the centre of Tbilisi
While the electoral college was voting inside the parliament, the streets of Tbilisi were filled with protesters. Despite the freezing weather, several hundred people demonstrated. They were holding diplomas and footballs, symbolically reminding them of the newly elected president’s lack of education and his football background.
The protesters called on Kavelashvili to come out to them to “play football” and sarcastically stated that his qualifications were only for his sporting achievements, not for leading the country.
Inauguration of the new president
Despite the protests and political tensions, the ruling party announced that the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili will take place on 29 December. This event will mark the official conclusion of an election process that has left many open questions about the legitimacy of the new government and the future political course of the country.
The election of Mikheil Kavelashvili as President of Georgia was a clear indication of the political crisis that has engulfed the country. The elections, which were accompanied by protests, boycotts and accusations of illegitimacy, demonstrate the deep divisions in Georgian society. Whether the new president will be able to unite the country depends on his actions and ability to gain the trust of the citizens.
