Georgia's new president sworn in amid political crisis
Georgia's new president, 53-year-old Mikheil Kavelashvili of the ruling pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, was sworn in on Sunday amid a deep political crisis.
At least 2,000 pro-European demonstrators gathered outside the presidential palace as the anti-Western former footballer was sworn in on Sunday morning.
Kavelashvili's predecessor, Salome Zourabichvili, told the crowd that she remained the "only legitimate president" of Georgia. "I will leave here with you and I will be with you. I take with me the legitimacy, the flag, your trust," said Zourabichvili, who had been president since 2018.
Behind closed doors
Georgia has been in a deep political crisis since the 26 October parliamentary elections, which were won by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Zourabichvili and the pro-Western opposition have accused the party of electoral fraud.
Kavelashvili is the first Georgian president to be elected by a new electoral college dominated by Georgian Dream, rather than by popular vote. He was sworn in behind closed doors in parliament, another unprecedented move in Georgia.
Anti-Western and radical right
Kavelashvili is a former footballer who, in recent years, has been best known as an anti-Western and radical right-wing politician. He has been a member of parliament since 2016. According to the ruling party, there was no fraud in the parliamentary elections and Kavelashvili was elected fairly.
The president is Georgia's head of state, a largely ceremonial position. Zourabichvili became president six years ago with the support of Georgian Dream. The 72-year-old politician has broken with the party and become one of its most outspoken critics in recent years.
Mikheil Kavelashvili takes the oath as Georgia's new president in Tbilisi on 29 December 2024. PHOTO IRAKLI GEDENIDZE / AFP
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