On December 14, Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected the next “President of Georgia” by the 300-member electoral college, which includes members from the parliament, autonomous republics, and city councils. Kavelashvili, a candidate from the ruling Georgian Dream party, received 224 votes in his favor. His election, however, was met with widespread criticism, as opposition parties refused to participate, deeming the process “illegitimate.”
The Georgian Dream party, led by honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, officially presented Kavelashvili as their candidate at the end of November. Ivanishvili emphasized Kavelashvili’s background as a successful footballer, who had represented Georgia in various top-tier clubs, including Manchester City and Dinamo Tbilisi. Ivanishvili also praised Kavelashvili’s political career, highlighting his contributions to strengthening Georgia’s national interests and sovereignty over the past eight years. “Misha [Kavelashvili] was a seasoned member of the Georgian football team, and in the last few years, he has made a great contribution to protecting the national interests of Georgia,” Ivanishvili said.
Despite this endorsement, the opposition sharply criticized the electoral process. The ‘Gakharia for Georgia’ party, along with other opposition groups, boycotted the election, calling it unconstitutional and undemocratic. The party issued a statement declaring that the election was held outside the constitution, within an illegitimate parliament, and fundamentally contradicted the constitutional principles. They further demanded the release of detainees arrested during protests and the holding of new elections under fair conditions. “The Georgian Dream, together with the Central Election Commission, has stolen the right of free choice from the Georgian people,” the statement read.
The protests against the elections and Georgian Dream’s choice for president continued as citizens gathered outside Parliament, some bringing diplomas to highlight that Kavelashvili lacked the necessary education to hold the office of president- heading for a sporting career, Kavelashvili left school in the 9th Grade. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also arrived at Parliament to express her opposition to the process, and the police were deployed in full force, with water cannons on standby. Opposition groups argue that the presidential election, being held in an indirect manner, was a violation of Georgia’s democratic principles. The electoral college consists of 150 members of parliament, representatives from the autonomous republics of Adjara and Abkhazia, and 109 members from local city councils. To win in the first round, a candidate needed at least two-thirds of the votes from the electoral college, or 200 votes. As the sole candidate, Kavelashvili was elected despite the opposition’s absence.
Following his election, Kavelashvili addressed the nation, reaffirming Georgia’s commitment to joining the European Union. However, he also criticized the EU for its treatment of Georgia, accusing the EU of double standards. He referenced the recent postponement of EU accession negotiations until 2028, stating, “In some cases, they insult us and treat us unfairly. We are trying to bring these points back to their attention for a healthy process.”
Kavelashvili’s presidency is set to begin on December 29, with his inauguration following shortly after. Despite opposition protests and accusations of a flawed electoral process, Kavelashvili remains firmly backed by the Georgian Dream party, which controls the majority of the electoral college.
By Team GT
