Georgian lawmakers have elected Mikheil Kavelashvili, a far-right former soccer star and ex-MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, as the country's next president. The decision was made in parliament by a direct ballot of a 300-member electoral college comprising MPs and local government representatives. Kavelashvili, who played for Manchester City in the 1990s, was the sole candidate in the running.
Due to the boycott of parliament by the main opposition groups since the disputed election in October, Kavelashvili's victory was virtually assured. Out of 225 electors present for the vote, 224 voted in favor of Kavelashvili, securing his upcoming inauguration on December 29.
Kavelashvili's presidency is expected to escalate tensions in Georgia between pro-Kremlin factions and pro-European Union demonstrators. The latter have been staging protests in Tbilisi for the past 16 nights following the government's decision to suspend talks on EU accession.
The outgoing president, Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-Western figure aligned with opposition protesters, criticized the presidential vote as undermining democracy. Despite the outcome, Zourabichvili has vowed to remain in office, asserting her position as the only legitimate institution in Georgia.
It remains uncertain how Georgian Dream will react if Zourabichvili refuses to step down. In a previous interview, Zourabichvili emphasized the importance of Georgia's future over her personal safety or political fate.
