This is a new episode in a political crisis that has lasted for two months. The new president of Georgia, Mikheïl Kavelashvili, loyal to the ruling party, was sworn in this Sunday, December 29 to succeed the outgoing head of state and supporter of the pro-European opposition, Salomé Zourabichvili. Mikheïl Kavelashvili, a former footballer known for his ultraconservative and anti-Western positions, was invested during a short ceremony in Parliament.
At least 2,000 people gathered this Sunday morning in front of the presidential palace in Georgia to denounce his inauguration. This was held, for the first time in the history of Georgia, behind closed doors in Parliament, for fear of protests from the pro-European opposition.
A few minutes earlier, Salomé Zourabichvili announced that she was leaving the presidential palace but still considered herself the “only legitimate president” of the country, promising to continue to fight against the Georgian Dream party in power, after weeks of demonstrations by opponents pro-European. “I will leave the presidential palace to stand by your side, carrying with me the legitimacy, the flag and your trust,” she declared in front of the presidential palace in front of a crowd of supporters.
“Purity of traditional values of Georgians”
Aged 53, Mikheïl Kavelashvili was designated president on December 14 by an electoral college controlled by the Georgian Dream. Before joining this political party, he had a career as a footballer in Georgian and European clubs, notably Manchester City.
His political views align with far-right ideologies, particularly regarding national identity, opposition to recognizing the rights of LGBT+ people, and promoting the “purity of traditional values of Georgians” against what he describes as “putrid liberal fascism” imposed by the West. He attacked LGBT+ people in particular, victims of strong hostility in this country where the influence of Orthodox Christianity remains significant.
In Georgia, the powers of the president are limited and essentially symbolic, but Salomé Zourabishvili announced her refusal to give up her mandate, judging the appointment of Mikheïl Kavelashvili illegal.