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Former footballer with anti-Western views elected president of Georgia 

2024-12-14 18:20:50Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Former footballer with anti-Western views elected president of Georgia 
Mikheil Kavelashvili

Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer with anti-Western views, was elected president of Georgia as the ruling party tightens its grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for Russia. Mr. Kavelashvili easily won Saturday’s vote in a 300-seat electoral college dominated by the Georgian Dream party. The college replaced direct presidential elections in 2017. In public speeches this year, Mr. Kavelashvili has repeatedly claimed that Western intelligence agencies are seeking to drag Georgia into war with Russia. He is expected to be sworn in on December 29.

Former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected president of Georgia on Saturday, as the ruling party that voted him in is tightening its grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country's European Union aspirations.

The 53-year-old Kavelashvili was the only candidate on the ballot and easily won the vote given the Georgian Dream party's control of the 300-seat electoral college, which replaced direct presidential elections in 2017. This college is made up of members of Parliament, municipal councils and regional legislatures.

Out of 225 voters present, 224 voted for Kavelashvili.

A former professional footballer, Kavelashvili holds strongly anti-Western, often conspiratorial views. In public speeches this year, he has repeatedly claimed that Western intelligence agencies are trying to drag Georgia into war with Russia. He is expected to be sworn in on December 29.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside parliament as the voting procedure for the new president took place.

"Today's presidential elections cannot be legitimate, because the parliamentary elections were manipulated and essentially an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a legitimate president," says a protester.

"A president cannot have only 9 years of education. I have studied and worked since I was 15. He is not our president," says another protester.

"What we see today is a pure betrayal of the Georgian will, the will of the people, and a betrayal of the values ​​of the Georgian people and Western values. Today's election represents the system's clear desire to bring Georgia back to its Soviet roots," says one protester.

Georgian Dream retained control of parliament in the South Caucasus country in an Oct. 26 election that the opposition claims was rigged with Moscow's help. Georgia's outgoing president and the main pro-Western parties have since boycotted parliamentary sessions and demanded a repeat vote.

The Georgian Dream party has pledged to continue working towards EU membership, but also wants to "reset" ties with Russia.

Critics have accused the party, founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia, of becoming increasingly authoritarian and pro-Moscow, charges the ruling party has denied. The party recently passed laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on free speech and LGBTQ rights.

Pro-Western Salome Zourabichvili has been president since 2018 and has vowed to stay on after her six-year term ends, describing herself as the sole legitimate leader until new elections are held.

The Georgian Dream party's decision last month to suspend talks to join the European Union increased opposition anger and sparked citizen protests.

Thousands of demonstrators gather every night outside Parliament, after the government announced the suspension of EU membership talks on November 28.

Police used force to disperse the protesters, and hundreds were arrested. The US and EU have condemned the excessive use of force by police against the protesters. / Associated Press/VOA


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