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Georgia, Kavelashvili sworn in as president. The country's path to the EU becomes complicated

2024-12-29 16:54:14Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Georgia, Kavelashvili sworn in as president. The country's path to the EU
Mikheil Kavelashvili

Mikheil Kavelashvili, a fierce critic of the West, was sworn in as Georgia's president on Monday amid a political crisis in the country. Outside parliament, opposition protesters clashed with police, who arrested several of them. His predecessor, Salome Zourabichvili, an opponent of the ruling party, said Mikheil Kavelashvili's election was illegitimate, the result of rigged elections in October.

Former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili was officially sworn in as Georgia's president on Monday, cementing the ruling party's control in a development seen by the opposition as a blow to the country's aspirations to integrate into the European Union.

His predecessor, Ms. Salome Zourabichvili, an opponent of the ruling party, said in a defiant speech to supporters outside the presidential palace that Kavelashvili was not legally elected as president.

"If I leave the presidency, I will be with you... this election is not justified. I am leaving, taking your flag and your trust with me," she said.

Ms. Zourabichvili says that the election of Mikheil Kavelashvili was a product of the rigged parliamentary elections that were held in October.

Georgia's opposition parties support Ms. Zourabichvili. The ruling Georgian Dream party and the Election Commission say the October vote was free and fair. The ruling party also says Kavelashvili's election was fair.

In his speech on Sunday, Kavelashvili promised to be "everyone's president, whether they like him or not."

But protesters outside parliament, holding red cards in reference to Kavelashvili's former football career, demanded his removal.

"Because our president today is a former football player, we are showing him the red card and the next step will be his removal. Georgia will definitely do this, because what happened today in parliament was an ugly spectacle," says Sophie Shamanidi, a protester.

"Our illegitimate government is trying to appoint an illegitimate person who has no experience in politics, diplomacy, or economics. He doesn't know how to run a country, except to score goals. He was a footballer who has no training or education. We had an excellent president, with an excellent education," says another protester.

"It's the 32nd day of protest and we are protesting not only against the rigged elections, but also for our European future. We are protesting against the pro-Russian stance of the government," says another protester.

Local media reported that some protesters were detained, then released.

Georgia has been gripped by protests sparked by the Georgian Dream party's decision to suspend EU membership talks until 2028.

The move sparked widespread anger among Georgians, who polls show are pro-EU. Police have tried to crack down on the protests, arresting hundreds, including senior opposition leaders, VOA reports .


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