Georgia's new president ignites protests amid controversy
A political storm in Tbilisi. On Sunday, Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as president. This event occurred amid protests, with opposition members demonstrating and people gathering in the streets.
Mikheil Kavelashvili assumed the presidency of Georgia during a ceremony attended by members of the ruling party, Georgian Dream. According to the Polish Press Agency, security forces surrounded the parliament building.
Simultaneously, outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili joined the protesters who have been demonstrating against the government for a month. For the first time in history, foreign diplomats did not attend the Georgian presidential inauguration.
Georgia has a new president: Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili
Kavelashvili, a former soccer player, was elected by an electoral college on December 14. His candidacy, supported by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, sparked controversy. The opposition did not participate in the election, and the president was not selected via public vote.
In his first speech, Kavelashvili discussed security challenges and European integration, avoiding references to Russia. He emphasized the importance of Georgia's culture and self-determination, as highlighted by local media.
The opposition, including the United National Movement and Strong Georgia, called on the international community not to recognize the legitimacy of the new president. Georgian Dream has been described as a "self-proclaimed regime."
Kavelashvili, leader of the Power of the Nation movement, promised national unity. He also criticized his predecessor, Salome Zurabishvili, for "ignoring" constitutional rights. Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that if Zurabishvili refused to vacate the presidential residence on Sunday, she might be detained by the police and transferred to a penitentiary facility.
