Mikhail Kavelashvili, known for his ultra-conservative and anti-Western views, was sworn into parliament in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, to succeed Salome Zurabishvili
The new President of Georgia, Mikhail Kavelashvili, took office this Sunday, after an unprecedented election by an Electoral College, boycotted by the opposition, and faced with the threat of arrest of the outgoing head of state, who continues to assert herself as “legitimate” .
The politician and former footballer, known for his ultra-conservative and anti-Western views, was sworn into parliament in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, to succeed Salome Zurabishvili.
“Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend our homeland and our traditions, peace has always been one of the main goals and one of the main values of the Georgian people,” said Kavelashvili, during his inauguration speech .
The new President also called for respect for the country’s “traditions, values, national identity, the sanctity of the family and faith.”
Minutes before, the outgoing President had left the presidential palace, after rejecting the transfer of power, and continuing to assert that she was the “only legitimate President” of the country.
Salome Zurabishvili, who considers the victory fraudulent, joined the group of protesters who gathered in front of the Orbeliani Palace, in the center of the country’s capital, Tbilisi, to protest the ceremony.
“Society is out there. They are closed inside”, said the outgoing President about Kavelashvili and the ruling party, the Georgian Dream, which she accuses of having committed electoral fraud in the October legislative elections, triggering violent protests that have shaken the country for weeks.
“With me I bring legitimacy and the flag”, added the outgoing President in her first statements after leaving the presidential palace, reported by the Netgazeti news portal.
According to AFP, at least 2,000 people gathered outside the building in the morning, shouting “Georgia” and “Salome”.
The outgoing head of state, pro-European, opposes the Government, led by the Georgian Dream party, which is considered pro-Russian and which in November suspended negotiations for this candidate country’s accession to the European Union (EU).
Last week, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned that Zurabishvili could end up “behind bars” if he does not leave power after his term ends.
On Saturday, opposition parties issued a joint statement calling on the international community not to recognize the results of the October 26 elections and rejecting Kavelashvili’s legitimacy.
Also on Saturday, thousands of pro-European protesters gathered again in the capital of Georgia to protest against the inauguration, demanding the release of citizens detained during previous demonstrations and calling for new legislative elections.
Kavelashvili was elected by an electoral college, made up of 300 members, including deputies and representatives of local governments, becoming the sixth president in Georgia’s history since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
