CNN
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Georgian lawmakers on Saturday elected a far-right former soccer player as the country’s next president, amid growing public anger over Georgia’s decision to halt European Union accession talks. The tension deepened.
Mikhail Kavelashvili, 53, is a former member of the ruling Georgian Dream party and played for English soccer team Manchester City in the 1990s. He was the only candidate running.
For the first time, the president was chosen by parliament, rather than in a national election, by direct vote by a 300-member electoral college made up of parliamentarians and local government representatives. The four main opposition groups have boycotted parliament since October’s disputed elections, giving Kavelashvili a boost to victory.
According to Reuters, a total of 225 electors attended the vote, with 224 voting for Kavelashvili, who was nominated as the sole candidate. According to the news agency, he is scheduled to take office on December 29th. Georgia’s president has primarily ceremonial powers.
Kavelashvili is a staunch critic of the West, and his inauguration as president-elect is sure to exacerbate divisions between pro-Kremlin forces and pro-EU protesters. Many of them have been camping in Tbilisi for the past 16 days following the government’s decision to halt negotiations. To join the EU.
Tensions have been rising in the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million people in recent months. Critics say the ruling Georgian Dream party is pursuing increasingly authoritarian and pro-Russian policies, turning away from Western powers that have dampened hopes for Georgia’s long-promised path. The family is condemning it. To join the EU.
According to Reuters, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Kavelashvili at a post-vote press conference and also described outgoing President Salome Zurabichvili as an “agent” of an unspecified foreign power.
Meanwhile, pro-Western figure Zurabichvili, who joined the anti-government protesters, said the presidential vote “makes a mockery of democracy.” Before the vote, she vowed to remain in power despite the results, claiming she held Georgia’s only legitimate institution left.
“I am here and I will remain – standing with everyone!” Zurabichvili said late Friday.
It is unclear how Georgian Dream will react if Zurabichvili refuses to step down. In an interview with CNN in October, Zurabichvili downplayed concerns about his safety, saying his future was “not as important as Georgia’s future.”
Critics have questioned Kavelashvili’s ability for the role, pointing to his background in sports rather than politics. He entered politics in 2016 after being disqualified from coaching the Georgia Football Federation due to his lack of higher education.
Nathalie Savanadze, Georgia’s former ambassador to the EU, told CNN that Kavelashvili was “totally unqualified” and that many Georgians saw his selection as “an insult to the country.”
“I think this was not only the appointment of a puppet who clearly can’t think for himself, but also…a signal to Europe that we’re going to have a president who is completely opposed to Western values.” Savanadze said.
Georgia has been in crisis since October’s disputed election. Georgian Dream, which has been in power for 12 years, declared victory, but observers say the vote was neither free nor fair. The European Parliament called for a re-implementation.
Despite Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze having previously claimed that his party is committed to joining the EU, on November 28 he announced that some 80% of Georgians support membership in the EU. announced that it would suspend negotiations.
Meanwhile, relations between Georgia and the EU have deteriorated sharply in recent months, with Brussels claiming the government has resorted to authoritarian measures and taken a pro-Russian stance.
Pro-EU Georgians have been outside the parliament building in Tbilisi every night since November 28, despite police and masked “special forces” quelling a series of violence against dozens of protesters. We are doing a demo. CNN has asked the Interior Ministry for comment on the alleged atrocities committed by masked forces, but did not receive a response.
According to Reuters, Georgia’s interior ministry said more than 150 police officers were injured during the protests.
Early Saturday morning, protesters took to the streets for the 17th day. Kavelashvili was also seen kicking a soccer ball, as if to mock his expected appointment.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
