This ex-footballer turned politician, close to the ruling party, was elected on December 14 in a controversial election.
Published on 29/12/2024 08:50
Reading time: 1min
An inauguration in the midst of political turmoil. Former sportsman and figure of the Georgian far right, Mikheïl Kavelashvili was sworn in on Sunday December 29 to become the country's new president. Loyal to the Georgian Dream party, currently in power and widely criticized for his pro-Russia positions, Mikheïl Kavelashvili has faced significant popular protest since his election on December 14. Around the presidential palace, nearly 2,000 people demonstrated since dawn on Sunday to denounce his inauguration. The outgoing head of state, Salomé Zourabichvili, breaking with the government, called on Georgians to gather there, while promising to announce her intentions there.
As president, the powers of Mikhail Kavelashvili, known for his nationalist and conservative speeches, are mainly symbolic. But since the announcement of his election in an indirect vote boycotted by the opposition, he has had to deal with the resistance of Salomé Zaroubishvili, who repeated in recent days that she would refuse to relinquish his duties as long as the authorities did not organize new legislative elections. Sunday morning, the latter finally gave in and left the presidential palace, declaring however that she was the “only legitimate president”while promising to continue his fight.
