Controversy over the presidency: Georgia’s new president inaugurated

In the South Caucasus republic of Georgia, new President Mikhail Kavelashvili took office at a ceremonial ceremony in parliament, despite weeks of protests. The 53-year-old took the oath on the Bible and the constitution in the capital Tbilisi. He vowed to serve Georgia’s interests.

Meanwhile, the previous pro-Western head of state Salome Zurabishvili told supporters that she was leaving the presidential seat but taking her legitimacy with her. It does not recognize Kavelashvili’s election on December 14th and is calling for new elections with the support of mass protests.

Heads of state tend to perform representative tasks in the country, which also shares a long border with Russia. “This parody that is now running in parliament is a real parody that the country does not deserve,” Zurabishvili said of the inauguration. Many supporters had expected the politician to stay in the palace and continue fighting.

Thousands in front of the presidential residence

The ruling Georgian Dream party, which had formed Kavelashvili, had threatened Zurabishvili with prison if she did not leave the head of state’s official residence in the center of the capital. Thousands of supporters gathered in front of the residence in the morning to support Zurabishvili. According to the media, there were initially no major protests against the inauguration at Parliament not far from the residence.

For weeks, thousands of people have been demonstrating every day for a return to the country’s EU course and for a repeat of the October parliamentary election, in which the national-conservative ruling party Georgian Dream was declared the winner. The Georgian Dream had put the country’s EU accession negotiations on hold until 2028, triggering the protests.

The former center forward Kavelashvili has been a member of the Georgian parliament since 2016. Before that he was a footballer for various clubs at home and abroad.