Mikhail Kavershvili was sworn in as Georgia’s president on Sunday. The ceremony, which was attended by MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream party, government officials and the Electoral College, lasted less than an hour. The building is surrounded by security forces.
At the same time, outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili announced that she would leave the presidential palace and join demonstrators who have been taking part in anti-government demonstrations for a month.
For the first time, no foreign diplomats participated in Georgia’s presidential swearing-in ceremony. Congressional officials had already announced there was no room for them in the building.
Georgia has a new president. Mikhail Kavelashvili takes over as successor
Mikheil Kavelashvili took the oath in the chamber, holding a copy of the constitution specially printed for this occasion. He is the sixth president in Georgia’s recent history.
See: Anti-government protests in Georgia. People formed a “chain of solidarity”
In his first speech, Kavelashvili touched on the security challenges facing the region and Georgia, according to Sova’s website. He drew attention to the polarization occurring within domestic politics, which he believes is being caused by “external influences”.
He also said that he believes European integration is important as long as Georgia’s culture and national self-determination are preserved. Local media noted that there was no mention of Russia throughout the speech.
Protests in Georgia. “Self-proclaimed government.” People opposed to new president
The 53-year-old politician has ties to Georgian Dream. Previously, he was a former Georgia national football player and played for clubs both domestically and internationally, including playing in the colors of Manchester City as a striker in the English Premier League. He also played for several clubs in the Swiss Super League.
His candidacy was announced by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman of Georgian Dream and widely considered the most important person in the country. He was the only candidate for head of state. He was elected on December 14 this year by an electoral college that included only Georgian Dream representatives. Opposition parties did not participate in the vote. For the first time in Georgia, a president was not elected in a general election.
See also: The Electoral College has chosen a new president. Georgia protests
Kavelashvili is one of the leaders of the People Power movement, which officially broke away from the ruling party. In October’s parliamentary elections, the 53-year-old ran on the Georgia Dream List. In his acceptance speech, Kavelashvili vowed to unite Georgia, while accusing outgoing president Salome Zurabishvili of “insulting and ignoring” constitutional rights.
Opposition leaders: United National Movement, Strong Georgia, Coalition for Change, Coalition for Georgia issued a joint statement on Saturday night, appealing to the international community not to recognize the legitimacy of the Georgian parliament, government and Kavelashvili. . president of the country. Opposition parties described the Georgian Dream as “a self-styled regime that usurped the will of the people.”
Meanwhile, demonstrators asserted that Zurabishvili’s resignation does not mean an end to the anti-government rallies. “Today is the 32nd day of protests, tomorrow will be the 33rd. Nothing has changed. We will still be here,” one of the protesters said in an interview with PAP, holding a Georgian flag. He spoke at
Protest in front of the Georgian parliament. Red card for Kavelashvili
KO MEP Michał Walikiewicz was at the scene and commented to Polsat News. – I’m in front of the Diet. The entire crowd of protesters was removed from the presidential palace. After the speech, the president decided to leave the presidential palace following threats and the administration’s announcement that he would be forcibly removed from the presidential palace, but he will continue to serve as president of Georgia until fair, free, and transparent elections are held. announced. explained Walikiewicz.
Streets around parliament have been cordoned off and cordoned off by police.
See also: Georgia is leaving the EU. The prime minister suspended accession negotiations.
Georgians pointed to the fact that the new president was a former football player and showed him a red card as a sign of opposition. They also shouted words of opposition to the government and the new president, such as “Russians, Russians.”
– The situation is very dynamic and at the same time very clear regarding the message of Georgian society (…) people say they will not allow the country to be handed over to Russia – said the MEP .
When asked what the future holds for interstate relations with Georgia, he replied that the European Union’s position is clear, but the president’s situation remains difficult and the situation itself is at risk. – The EU’s position is clear. He recognizes her (ed. Salome Zurabishvili) as the legitimate president, he said.
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