Much criticized by pro-European supporters, Mikheïl Kavelashvili took the helm of the Georgian presidency. The outgoing president, Salomé Zourabichvili, left the presidential palace, but believes she is the only “legitimate” person in this position.
Georgia invested on Sunday Mikheil Kavelachvilinew president, contested in the streets, but loyal to power, unlike the outgoing head of state. This is a new episode in a political crisis that has been underway for weeks, marked by large-scale pro-European demonstrations.
Kavelachvili, a former footballer known for his ultra-conservative and anti-Western positions, took the oath of office in Parliament to succeed Salomé Zourabichvilia supporter of the protest. He was elected on December 14 by an electoral college controlled by the ruling party, Georgian Dream.
“Our history clearly shows that after countless struggles for defend our homeland and our traditionspeace has always been one of the main goals and one of the main values of the Georgian people,” said Mr. Kavelashvili in his speech, while his camp presents itself as a bulwark against the West which would like to drag Tbilisi in the war between Russia and Ukraine. He also called for respect for “our traditions, our values, our national identity, the sanctity of the family and the faith”.
A few minutes earlier, after leaving suspense hanging over her intentions, the outgoing president had finally announced that she was leaving the presidential palace, while still saying that she was ” only legitimate president » of the country and promising to continue the fight. At least 2,000 people gathered on Sunday morning in front of this building, and chanted “Georgia” and “Salomé” before this speech, according to AFP journalists.
Georgia, a country in the Caucasus and the former USSR, has been in turmoil since the legislative elections of October 26, won by the Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, but denounced as rigged by the pro-Western opposition. She, their supporters in the street and Ms. Zourabichvili are demanding a new election. The situation was exacerbated on November 28 when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidzé announced that he would postpone his country’s EU integration efforts until 2028, triggering daily pro-European demonstrations which have not stopped since. bring together thousands of people. The Georgian Dream for its part denies any fraud in the legislative and accuses the opposition of wanting to provoke a revolutionaccording to him, financed from abroad
