In Tbilisi, thousands of Georgians took to the streets in protest as Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former professional footballer and ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was inaugurated as the nation’s new president.
Kavelashvili’s swearing-in comes at a politically fraught time, as the government recently suspended its bid for European Union membership. While Georgian Dream secured victory in the October parliamentary elections, allegations of election fraud have ignited ongoing street demonstrations.
Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili has refused to step down, asserting her status as the “only legitimate president.” Addressing protesters outside the presidential palace, she stated she would vacate the building but denounced Kavelashvili’s presidency as illegitimate.
“This building held significance only while a legitimate president occupied it,” Zourabichvili declared.
Meanwhile, Kavelashvili took his oath of office in a closed-door ceremony held in parliament, attended by his family and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. During his inaugural address, Kavelashvili emphasized Georgia’s heritage, traditions, and commitment to peace.
“Our history demonstrates that, despite countless struggles to defend our homeland and values, peace has always been a cornerstone for the Georgian people,” he stated.
Opposition Rejects New President
Four major opposition parties boycotted the inauguration and rejected Kavelashvili’s presidency. As a former MP with the Georgian Dream party, Kavelashvili ran unopposed for the role, which critics, including Zourabichvili, have called a farce.
In recent years, Georgian Dream has been accused of growing authoritarian tendencies, including passing laws targeting foreign-funded media and NGOs, as well as the LGBTQ+ community. The party’s reluctance to join Western sanctions on Russia and its criticism of the West as the “global war party” have cast doubts on its commitment to EU and NATO integration.
While the majority of Georgians support EU membership—a goal enshrined in the country’s constitution—the ruling party announced in November that accession talks would not be pursued until 2028. This decision spurred mass protests, with demonstrators clashing with riot police who used tear gas and water cannons.
Renewed Protests and International Pressure
On the eve of Kavelashvili’s inauguration, thousands of protesters gathered in Tbilisi, waving Georgian and EU flags and forming a human chain that stretched for kilometers.
“I am here with my family, trying to pull this small country out of the grip of the Russian empire,” one protester told the Associated Press.
The United States recently imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire and former prime minister who founded the Georgian Dream party.
A Divided Nation
Georgia operates as a parliamentary democracy, where the president serves as head of state and the prime minister leads parliament. Zourabichvili, who was backed by Georgian Dream when she assumed office in 2018, has since turned against the party, condemning their recent election victory as a “Russian special operation” and supporting nightly pro-EU protests.
As the political turmoil continues, Georgia’s future on its European path remains uncertain, with tensions between pro-EU citizens and a government increasingly leaning toward Russian influence.