TBILISI: Successively accused of being formally democratic but authoritarian Georgia Saakashvili’s ruling party over the weekend selected a far-right ex-footballer to become president in a disputed manner and during a deepening constitutional crisis made worse by weeks of pro-EU protests.
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The Black Sea nation has been concerned since the ruling Georgian Dream party triumphed in the disputed October 8 parliamentary elections and further sour relations as they also agreed to postpone EU association talks for four years.
An electoral college of the ruling party Georggian Dream with an opposition boycott elected Mikheil Kavelashvili with 224 votes as the new figurehead leader of Georggia for the five-year term, said the central election commission.
Kavelashvili is 53 years of football, and the former Manchester City English premier league title winner is a former forward. He has been in parliament since 2016 and mostly discusses policies of Neo-Naziparties and uses obscene language.
The opposition has dismissed it as a show stating that a sitting president is the only rightful president of a country.
“Certainly, certain forces, and mainly the outside ones, have been using the presidential institution to divide society for years,” Prime Minister Irakli Kohkhidze told journalists.
“It will get back to the discharge of its constitutional prerogative and recognition under the presidentship of Mikheil Kavelashvili.” Therefore, the opposition declared the election that took place on Saturday invalid and said that only the current leader Salome Zurabishvili is the only legal president of Georgia.
The pro-western candidate Zurabishvili – an official enemy of the ruling party Georgian Dream has dismissed the resignation and demanded early parliamentary elections that have created a constitutional crisis.
The ex-diplomat and now a president, Zurabishvili — the darling of the protesters who see her as Georgia’s defender of the European Union — described Saturday’s vote as a “joke on democracy”.
Outside the parliament on Saturday evening, thousands of protesters applauded back to Zurabi Shvili when he bowed to them.
“I am with you, and you are in my heart,” she told the cheering crowd as demonstrators shouted: ”Congratulations to G. President” “If there is no new election to get peace and justice Georgia should be wiped out.” That is why we are here – without tensions, without chaos, and storm without noise,” said President-elect Zurabishvili.
The city authorities said that they intended to switch on the light at a giant Christmas tree near the parliament Saturday evening but the Tbilisi mayor later said he would do that given the actions of the “radical opposition”.
The opposition says that Georgian Dream seeks to ‘control’ the October 26 parliamentary election and what results is the rollback on democracy and the fall of Tbilisi to Russia’s House of Cards. However, Georgia, under the existing constitution, has a right to join the European Union.
Kavelashvili – who was the only candidate for the largely ceremonial post of president – once urged Western nations to be beaten and did not like the rights of homosexual people. Regarding the presidential power, through new amendments in 2017 that were adopted by Georgian Dream, the direct election of the president was canceled.
FAQs
Who is the new leader of Georgia?
Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former soccer player and politician, associated with anti-Western rhetoric, was elected.
Why is this significant?
His election signals a potential pivot towards closer ties with Russia, amid controversies about Georggia’s EU aspirations.
What party does he represent?
He is linked to the Georggian Dream party, known for its recent policies favoring Russia.
What challenges lie ahead?
Critics cite democratic backsliding, opposition protests, and concerns over Western alliances.