Georgia's election turmoil: Mikheil Kavelashvili's win sparks protests
Mikheil Kavelashvili has been elected president of Georgia by the electoral college. The 53-year-old politician, a former soccer player, was the only candidate nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The election occurred without the opposition's participation.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old politician and former soccer player, was elected president of Georgia by the electoral college. According to the Central Election Commission, Kauelaszwili was the sole candidate put forward by the ruling Georgian Dream party. This information was reported by the Echo of the Caucasus service, a branch of Radio Liberty.
Georgia has chosen a president
In the voting held on Saturday, Kavelashvili received votes from 224 out of 300 electoral college members. The college comprises parliamentarians and representatives of local authorities. The elections proceeded without the participation of representatives from opposition parties and some deputies from the Abkhazia People's Assembly.
Electing Kavelashvili as president has sparked protests. An anti-government demonstration has been ongoing since dawn in front of the parliament building. Protesters, with banners reading "Puppet President" and "Not My President," have gathered around the parliament.
Around the building, a police cordon and water cannons are visible. The inauguration of the new president is scheduled for December 29.
Controversies surrounding Kavelashvili's selection
The 53-year-old Kavelashvili is a politician affiliated with Georgian Dream and a former representative of Georgia in soccer, playing for both domestic and international clubs. He was a forward in the English Premier League, where he played for Manchester City. He also played for several clubs in the Swiss Super League.
His candidacy was announced by the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is widely considered the most influential figure in the country.
Kavelashvili is one of the leaders of the Nation's Power movement, which officially split from the ruling party. In the October parliamentary elections, he ran with the Georgian Dream list. In a speech given upon accepting the nomination, Kavelashvili committed to uniting Georgia, while accusing the outgoing president of "insulting and ignoring" constitutional rights.
On Friday, Georgia's president, Salome Zurabishvili, stated that the presidential election is "an event completely lacking legitimacy, unconstitutional and illegal". Previously, she announced that her mandate would last until a new president is elected by the new parliament. On Friday, she confirmed she does not plan to leave the country.
The opposition does not recognize the election results
The opposition does not recognize the result of the October parliamentary elections, which were won by Georgian Dream, due to numerous irregularities. These groups are demanding the announcement of a new vote.
The same demand is made by a large part of society. Since November 28, Georgians have been participating in anti-government protests organized across the country. Demonstrators oppose the Georgian Dream policy, which has suspended talks about the country's accession to the EU until 2028. They are also demanding the release of protesters detained by the police, which - according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs - amounts to over 430 individuals.
The demonstrations are a grassroots social initiative, taking place without speeches. Opposition parties have stated that they are not organizing these events, and their representatives are not speaking at them.
