The outgoing pro-European president Salomé Zourabichvili must give way to the pro-Russian far-right Mikhail Kavelashvili, candidate of the ruling party, nominated on December 14. But the ruling Georgian Dream party is strongly contested by part of the population who have been demonstrating daily for a month. A few hours before the ceremony, our special correspondent in Tbilisi asked the demonstrators in front of Parliament how they envisaged the continuation of the movement.
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With our special correspondent in Tbilisi, Julien Chavanne
It’s after 11 p.m., Avenue Roystavelie is slowly emptying. There are still a few dozen demonstrators, the most motivated, like Tatia Mekerichvili, a 22-year-old student.
“ We have no choice but to demonstrate. Those in power cannot lie to people and say that there is no one demonstrating here. “, she explains.
Next to her, Kessane Babounashvili nods. But for her, the solution will come from international pressure. “ For the moment, the European Union, apart from the Baltic countries, is very slow to react. I hope that they will in turn decide on new sanctions, because that is what will break this power, they have their property and their children in Europe “, believes the protester.
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Protesters mobilized for a month
Thirty-one days of mobilization have not brought back power and nothing will prevent Mikhail Kavelashvili to be inaugurated president. Whatever. Temo, a regular at demonstrations, will never recognize the new head of state.
“ There is nothing extraordinary about what will happen this Sunday. This inauguration has no importance, it does not count because the only legitimate and democratically elected president is Salomé Zourabichvili “, proclaims Temo.
Also readGeorgia: pro-Russian Mikhail Kavelashvili elected president of the country by Parliament
The outgoing president spent the night in the presidential palace. She will reveal her plan for the future in the morning, an hour before the inauguration of the person who is supposed to succeed her.
Also readIn Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili, a president in resistance