The new president of Georgia, Mikheïl Kavelashvili, was sworn in on Sunday to succeed the outgoing head of state and supporter of the pro-European opposition, Salomé Zourabichvili. The latter announced that she was leaving the presidential palace.
A former footballer known for his ultra-conservative and anti-Western positions, the politician loyal to the ruling party was invested during a short ceremony in Parliament.
A few minutes earlier, Ms. Zourabichvili announced that she was leaving the presidential palace but still considered herself the ‘only legitimate president’ of the country. She vowed to continue fighting against the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Until now, she had refused to give up her mandate without organizing new legislative elections.
At least 2,000 people gathered Sunday morning in front of the presidential palace to denounce the inauguration of the new president. Many demonstrators waved European Union flags.
/ATS
Swiss
