Mikheil Kavelashvili took the oath on Sunday, intended to inaugurate his presidency in Georgia. The ceremony was attended only by members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, members of the government and the electoral college. Outgoing president Salome Zurabishvili left the palace and joined the protesters. She stated that she, and not Kavelashvili, had the “legitimacy to rule.”
Mikheil Kavelashvili took the oath in the parliament's session hall on a copy of the constitution specially printed for the occasion. The building is surrounded by security forces. For the first time at the president's swearing-in ceremony Georgia foreign diplomats did not participate. Parliament officials had already announced that there was no room for them in the building.
Kavelashvili was the only candidate for the office of head of state. On December 14, he was elected by an electoral college composed exclusively of representatives of the Georgian Dream. The opposition did not take part in the vote. For the first time, the president of Georgia was not elected in direct elections.
According to the Sova website, in his first speech Kavelashvili touched upon, among others: on the security challenges facing the region and Georgia. He drew attention to the polarization that has occurred within national politics, which in his opinion is caused by “external influences.” He also mentioned European integration, which he believes is important as long as Georgia's culture and self-determination are preserved. Local media note that no reference to was made throughout the speech Russia.
KavelashviliReuters
Zurabishvili: I take my legitimacy to rule with me
The leaders of the opposition parties: United National Movement, Strong Georgia, Coalition for Change and For Georgia issued a joint statement on Saturday evening in which they appealed to the international community not to recognize the legitimacy of the Georgian parliament, government and Kavelashvili as the country's president. The opposition described the Georgian Dream as a “self-proclaimed regime that usurped the will of the people.”
Before Kavelashvili's swearing-in, outgoing president Salome Zourabishvili announced that she was leaving the presidential residence and joining the demonstrators who have been taking part in anti-government protests for a month. On Sunday morning, the president made a statement before a crowd of her supporters in Tbilisi.
She said that Kavelashvili did not have the right to hold the office of president. – I take this ID card with me. I'm taking this flag with me, I'm taking your trust with me, she said, leaving the palace.
Salome Zurabishvili joining the protest after Kelaishvili's swearing in as president in GeorgiaDAVID MDZINARISHVILI/EPA/PAP
– I want to tell you that six years ago I took an oath of loyalty to the constitution, but what was more important was the oath of loyalty to the country and to you. That's why I'm here today. This allegiance will not change in any way, whether I am in the palace or outside it. I will go out from here to you and be with you, said Zurabishvili. The leader called the ruling Georgian Dream party a “Russian tragedy” and said that “love for each other and for the country will give us victory.”
The protests have been going on since November 28, when the government suspended talks on Georgia's accession to the EU until 2028. The demonstrators demand that new parliamentary elections be called. Together with the opposition parties, they do not recognize the results of the October parliamentary elections due to numerous irregularities.
Mikheil Kavelashvili – who is he?
The 53-year-old politician is associated with the Georgian Dream. Previously, he was a former representative of Georgia in football and a player of domestic and foreign clubs, including a striker in the English Premier League, where he defended the colors of Manchester City. He also played for several Swiss Super League clubs.
Kavelashvili is one of the leaders of the Power of the People movement, which officially separated from the ruling party. In the October parliamentary elections, the 53-year-old ran from the Georgian Dream list. In his acceptance speech, Kavelashvili pledged to unite Georgia, while accusing outgoing president Salome Zourabishvili of “insulting and ignoring” constitutional rights.
Main photo source: DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/EPA/PAP