In a landmark turn for Georgian politics, former national footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected as the sixth president of Georgia, as reported by Anadolu Agency (AA) on Saturday.
The electoral process was conducted by the Central Election Commission, made up of representatives of the 300-member Parliamentary Electoral Council, who overwhelmingly supported Kavelashvili’s candidacy. Nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, Kavelashvili received an impressive 224 votes out of 300, marking a decisive victory.
However, it is worth noting that 61 opposition members chose to abstain during the voting process, expressing their disagreement regarding the results of the parliamentary elections held on October 26.
Since gaining independence in 1991, Georgia underwent significant constitutional reforms in 2017 that established the electoral procedure whereby the president is now elected by a 300-member council — a first of its kind.
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A total of 225 members participated in the vote, with Kavelashvili receiving 224 votes while one was considered invalid. It is important to emphasize that a minimum of 151 votes was needed to move the election forward.
Kavelashvili, 53, is a prominent figure in Georgian politics, being a co-founder of the People Power party. This party was born in 2022 following his departure from the Georgian Dream, accompanied by two other legislators. Currently, the People Power party holds six seats in the country’s 150-member parliament.
Kavelashvili’s election was met with resistance from four major opposition factions, who collectively rejected his presidency and are boycotting parliamentary sessions, alleging that the October elections were rigged.
Protests broke out outside parliament early in the morning as citizens gathered in large numbers, braving chilly temperatures ahead of the decisive vote.
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A celebrated figure in Georgian football, Kavelashvili earned over 40 caps for the national team between 1991 and 2002, notably playing as a striker for clubs such as Dinamo Tbilisi, Manchester City and Basel.
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