Political crisis in Georgia: Far-Right ex-footballer becomes president

Political crisis in Georgia: Far-Right ex-footballer becomes president

The Georgian MPs elected a former football star of the extreme right to the next president of the country on Saturday, which further strengthens the tensions between the pro-Russian government and the pro-Western opposition. The resentment of the population on the government's decision to hire the accession talks on the European Union is growing.

who is Mikheil Kavelashvili?

Mikheil Kavelashvili, 53 years old, is a former member of the governing party "Georgian Dream" and played for the English football team Manchester City in the 1990s. He was the only candidate who was available.

the choice and its circumstances

the president was not elected by a national election, but by a direct voting procedure in parliament. The 300-member election committee is made up of MPs and representatives of local administration. Since the four main opposition parties have boycotted the parliament since the controversial election in October, Kavelashvili was practically the safest candidate for victory.

A total of 225 voters were present, and 224 voted for Kavelashvili, who was the only candidate. The inauguration is planned for December 29. The presidents in Georgia have largely ceremonial powers.

a controversial president

Kavelashvili is a strict critic of the West, and his upcoming presidency will undoubtedly deepen the trenches between pro-wick-friendly powers and the pro-ee-protesting. These protesters have camped in Tbilisa for 16 nights after the government had decided to suspend the talks about joining the EU.

profound tensions in Georgia

For months, the tensions in the South Caucasian country have accumulated with 3.7 million inhabitants. Critics accuse the Governing Party "Georgian Dream" of increasingly taking authoritarian and pro-Russian measures, which inmates the hopes of Georgia's accession.

The Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Kavelashvili at a press conference after the election and described the outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili as a "agent", according to Reuters.

reactions to the choice

Zourabichvili, a pro-Western figure that has joined the opposition protesters, called the presidential election a "farce for democracy." Before the election, she promised to remain in office, regardless of the result, since it represents the only legitimate institution in Georgia.

"I'm here and will stay - together with everyone!" Said Zourabichvili on Friday evening.

Criticism of Kavelashvili

It is unclear how "Georgian Dream" will react if Zourabichvili refuses to vacate the office. In an interview with CNN in October, Zourabichvili played fears about her security and explained that her future was "not as important as the future of Georgia."

critics question the suitability of Kavelashvilis for the office and refer to its sporting background instead of political experiences. He joined politics in 2016 after he was excluded from the leadership of the Georgian Football Federation due to a lack of higher education.

international reactions

Natalie Sabanadze, the former Georgian ambassador to the EU, said to CNN that Kavelashvili was "absolutely unqualified" and that many Georgians would see his choice as a "insult to the country".

"This was not only the nomination of a puppet that can obviously not think independently, but also a signal to Europe that we will have a president who is completely opposed to the western values," says Sabanadze.

The crisis in Georgia intensifies

Georgia has been crisis since a controversial election in October. The "Georgian Dream" party claims to have won the election, but observers reported that the vote was neither free nor fair. The European Parliament has called for a repetition of the election.

Although the Prime Minister had previously declared that his party was obliged to join the EU, Irakli Kobakhidze announced on November 28 that the government would suspend the accession talks with the EU, which is supported by around 80 % of Georgians.

protests and police force

Georgia's relationships and the EU have worsened in recent months, since Brussels accuse the government of taking authoritarian measures and accepting pro-Russian attitudes. Pro-EU-funded citizens have demonstrated since November 28th every evening in front of the parliament building in Tbilisa, despite police violence and the use of masked “special forces” against the protesters.

The Georgian Ministry of the Interior reported more than 150 injured officials during the protests, according to Reuters.

Early on Saturday the protesters took to the street for the 17th time. Some of them were seen as they played football, which was mocking the upcoming appointment of Kavelashvili.

This story is still under development and is continuously updated.