Georgia will have a new president elected on Saturday, December 14. His name is Mikhail Kavelashvili and his political action in Parliament, until now, had hardly made an impression. Some Tbilisi residents are just discovering the character. “When his name came up a few weeks ago, I went to see who it was on my phoneexplains Laora, crossed near the metro, in the center of the capital. And I saw that this gentleman spent his time saying bad words and swearing! There is no question of recognizing such a poorly educated leader!”
The athletic Mikhail Kavelashvili has never unleashed passions, despite an honest football career on the Georgian and Swiss pitches, ending in 2007 at FC Basel. “I knew him a little, when he was still a football player, but he wasn't particularly brilliantsmiles Davit Gvitchiani, a cap pressed into his head. In any case, I couldn't imagine that he would one day be president.” This man is seriously considering leaving the country with his family. “I don’t want to live in a corrupt country.”
This new figure of the country was appointed following an indirect vote in which he was the only candidate. The oppositions are boycotting the vote, as they are already boycotting parliamentary sessions. This election is entrusted to an electoral college, for the first time in the history of the Republic. In his new jersey, however, Mikhail Kavelashvili will be confined to the sidelines. No room for maneuver will be granted to him in this Caucasian country unofficially led by the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary president of the ruling party. The billionaire firmly holds the reins of Georgia, teaming up with his Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze.
Micha Dautachvili, a young man encountered a few minutes later, said he observed “more and more athletes in Parliament and in politics”. But the election of a man without a diploma and without particular skills for the post, he adds, will not change anything “au sentiment d’injustice” already experienced by part of the population, while the four opposition coalitions and NGOs denounced fraud during the legislative elections of October 26. The inauguration of Mikhail Kavelashvili is scheduled for December 29, but anti-government demonstrators are now pinning their hopes on the current president, Salomé Zourabichvili, who has ruled out handing over her mandate until new legislative elections are organized.
This decision, however, should further aggravate the political and institutional crisis which is shaking the country, which will in fact find itself with two heads of state in competition. Moreover, “the president incurs real risks” if she decides to stay in the country, constitutionalist David Zedelachvili explains to franceinfo, because she will be exposed to accusations of all kinds from Georgian Dream. With the lifting of presidential immunity, she will no longer have any protection, other than popular mobilization.
“Our votes were stolen during an illegitimate election”reacts Nato Kvaratskhelia, who voted in the legislative elections for the Akhali party, member of the For Change coalition. “I think we will go and physically defend the president, in front of the presidential palace if necessary. Salomé Zourabichvili is now our only hope and our only light”continues this woman. Several people interviewed say they are ready to literally create a barrier between the leader and the police. “We are not going to ask questions, we are going to protect the presidentagrees Marina Tchtchua. And this is not my personal opinion, it is that of my neighbors, my friends…”
“It’s nice, but it’s going to be okay,” the person concerned smiled during her interview with franceinfo. Salomé Zourabichvili received the opposition coalitions Thursday evening, ahead of the vote. A member of his entourage arranged to meet us on “28 in the evening”without providing other details. At this stage, Georgian Dream has not specified the measures that will be put in place if the leader refuses to leave power before New Year's Eve. This year, many traders have already announced that they will avoid the small market chalets set up in front of the palace.
In the meantime, the walls and balconies of Tbilisi are adorned with countless EU flags, making the European quarter of Brussels green with envy. A clamor resonates in the crowd, around a group caught in the crush. The stars of the day? Several MEPs, including Frenchwoman Nathalie Loiseau, came to support the demonstrators. “Salomé Zourabichvili is the legitimate leader of the country”insists the Lithuanian Rasa Jukneviciene, questioned by franceinfo.“We will still support her”even after December 29.
Most of the people encountered outside the demonstration denounced stolen elections and supported the mobilization. A few rare passers-by still cast disapproving glances, then a man ends up denouncing the current crisis. “Before, we received directives from Moscow, now, it is from Brussels. Europe must respect our sovereigntysummarizes Davit Gelachvili. There's no point going to see the demonstrators, they are aggressive and do not accept contradiction.” This self-employed person claims to have not voted since 2012, when “it was necessary to put an end to the fascist regime”. With these words he designates the sworn enemy of the Georgian Dream: the United National Movement of former President Mikheïl Saakashvili, imprisoned for three years.
“The demonstrations must stop, this country has been constantly disrupted for thirty years. And if this happened to you, in your opinion, how would the French police react to the demonstrators?”
Davit Gelachvili, self-employed person opposed to the protestsat franceinfo
Rostom, a retired police officer, is walking a few meters away, hidden behind thick mustaches. He draws a card from his memories then brings it down with a serious look, as he talks about the next few weeks. “I would simply remind my young colleagues that on April 9, 1989, when the Russians killed twenty anti-Soviet demonstrators just a stone's throw from here, the Georgian police defended the activists. And I would tell them that we must not forget that these people, in the government, are the descendants of the Russians.” Then he moves on just as sharply to Napoleon and Joan of Arc, this time breaking into a big smile. Does he imagine burning down Moscow so as not to end up on fire?
In recent evenings, the fire of mobilization seemed to weaken in the capital. Fireworks, the sale of which is now banned, rarely light up the sky. The police officers have broken ranks at the start of the two streets which run alongside Parliament. Further on, on Liberty Square, there are no longer water cannons stationed for hours, like at the start of the week. Some police officers take the opportunity to take a nap, after intense nights. And the concentration of tear gas gradually fell.
“We must regain our strengthslips Anastasia Tskhakaia, a young protester. The mobilization will resume with a vengeance throughout the end of the year, because of this presidential affair.”and the fate that will be reserved for Salomé Zourabichvili. “Of course, there is the New Year soon, the end-of-year holidays. We would like to spend time with the family, to party… But there are priorities, and there the country is in danger. “ Does she not fear that the decision of the current leader will trigger a new cycle of violence? “You know, here, a few days ago, we already went through hell,” she slips in reference to the violence of the previous week.
The state security service, for its part, said it feared an increase in violence, even anticipating, according to curious forecasts, death “two to three people”. At this stage, nothing happened.
Poet Zviad Ratiani smokes a cigarette between interviews for local media. He has just been picked up at the bottom of his building, by “at least four masked individuals”who tripped him and knocked him to the ground. A few blood marks stained his jeans. “I bought a pair of pants after my last attack and lo and behold, they’re already ruined.” A woman comes to greet him, and suggests he move to Berlin. “But what would I do with my three cats?” As the country prepares to plunge into the unknown, and the specter of new violence is never far away, the artist takes a breath. Straight in the eyes, he formulates a wish: may his Georgia capsize in “peaceful chaos”.
