Georgia’s new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, an ex-footballer turned far-right politician, was sworn in on Sunday amid protests and accusations of an illegitimate election process. Kavelashvili, a controversial figure known for his offensive rhetoric and hardline stances against LGBTQ+ rights, was elected by an electoral college controlled by the Georgian Dream party, bypassing a popular vote after a 2017 constitutional change. His inauguration came after weeks of mass protests in Tbilisi, sparked by frustrations over the government’s halt of EU accession talks.
In his inaugural speech, Kavelashvili emphasized Georgian “traditions” and “family values,” while outgoing pro-Western president Salome Zurabishvili declared herself the “only legitimate president” of the country. Protesters have condemned Kavelashvili as a puppet of billionaire oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose influence has been linked to undermining Georgia’s democratic future in favor of closer ties with Russia.
Kavelashvili’s controversial past includes anti-Western remarks and support for policies that align with Russia, making him a divisive figure in Georgia’s politics. The legitimacy of his election has been called into question by legal experts, and the country remains in a constitutional crisis as political unrest continues to brew. Many see this as an attempt by the Georgian Dream party to cement control, with Kavelashvili as their figurehead.
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