Mikheil Kavelashvili becomes Georgia's new president

In an election held in Georgia on December 14, for the first time in the country's history, the president was chosen by a 300-member electoral college instead of a popular vote. The candidate of the ruling Georgian Dream party, former national footballer and member of parliament Mikheil Kavelashvili, received the required 200 votes to become Georgia's new president.

Opposition parties boycotted the election process and did not nominate candidates, as they do not recognize the results of the parliamentary elections held on October 26.

WHO IS THE NEW PRESIDENT MIKHEIL KAVELASHVILI?

Mikheil Kavelashvili is a former professional footballer and politician born on July 22, 1971, in the city of Bolnisi, Georgia.

After his football career, Kavelashvili entered politics and entered parliament in 2016 representing the Georgian Dream party. In 2022, he left the party to found the Power of the People party. In 2024, he was nominated for the presidency by the Georgian Dream party and was elected president of Georgia in the election held on December 14, 2024.

Kavelashvili is known in his political career for his anti-Western rhetoric. He has made statements specifically accusing the US of creating instability in Georgia.

GEORGIA'S 'PRESIDENTIAL' PROBLEM: WHO WAS THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT?

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili took office on November 28, 2018, as the country's fifth and first female president. With a constitutional amendment made in 2017, it was decided that starting from 2024, the president would be elected through an electoral college rather than directly by the public.

It is known that the constant friction between the ruling party and the president created significant instability within the country.

When the Georgian Dream party won the election, President Zourabichvili had called for the election not to be recognized.

Current President Salome Zourabichvili has announced that she does not recognize the elections and will not vacate her office.

WHAT DOES GEORGIAN DREAM ADVOCATE?

There are clear differences between the currently ruling party and the opposition coalition. While Georgian Dream prefers a balanced foreign policy between Russia and the West, the opposition coalition wanted Georgia to directly sever ties with Russia and implement sanctions.

Furthermore, the party introduced a bill banning LGBT propaganda and reduced the influence of foreign-funded NGOs on the country's politics through a foreign agent law.

News Source: 12punto