The new Georgian president sworn in - predecessor speaks of illegitimacy

The new Georgian president sworn in - predecessor speaks of illegitimacy

Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in on Sunday as President of Georgia, after a turbulent election period, which was characterized by further tensions between Pro-Russian and Pro-European factions of the former as soon as possible.

Kavelashvilis background and choice

Kavelashvili, 53 years old, is a former member of the right -wing government party "Georgian Dream" and a former football star of the English Premier League. He was sworn in in the parliament in Tbilisa after the opposition parties boycotted the election process for the presidential election. Kavelashvili is a sharp critic of the West and was the only candidate.

call to unit

In his swearing -in ceremony, Kavelashvili promised "the president of all, whether you like me or not". He called the Georgians to combine "common values, the principles of mutual respect and the future we should build together." He emphasized: "The Georgian people have always understood that peace is the most important prerequisite for survival and development."

protests and criticism

In the past few weeks, Kavelashvili's succession in the largely ceremonial office has been drawn to sharp criticism of important opposition groups and violent protests by citizens who are against the decision of the government to postpone the application for accession to the European Union.

farewell words of the outgoing president

The outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-West opponent of the government party, took a hard attitude in her speech to supporters outside the presidential palace. "I'll get out of here and be with you," she said. "I take the legitimacy with me, I take the flag with me, I take your confidence with me," she added.

Protest actions of the citizens

The protesters waved red cards as a reference to Kavelashvili's football career. "Because our president is a footballer, we'll show him the red card. The next step will be to send it from the square. The Georgian people will definitely do so because it is today a circus that was listed in parliament," said the demonstrator Sofia Shamanidi to the Associated Press news agency.

violent police measures

CNN previously reported on brutal suppression of dozens of demonstrators by the police and "special units" in masking, in which some demonstrators ended up in the hospital. The country's Ministry of the Interior indicated that more than 150 civil servants were injured during the protests.

concerns regarding Kavelashvilis qualifications

critics express concerns about Kavelashvili's suitability for the office, since it comes from sport rather than from politics. In 2016 he entered the political arena after being excluded from the application for the management of the Georgian Football Association due to a lack of university education.

elections and international observations

The "Georgian Dream" party received almost 54 % of the votes. For the first time, the President in Parliament was elected by a direct coordination of a 300 -member election committee, which consists of members of the local government. Since the four most important opposition groups have boycotted the parliament since the controversial elections in October, Kavelashvili was the guaranteed winner. Local and international election observers reported regulations, and western countries called for an investigation.

Russian aggression and anger of the Georgians

zourabichvili described the process as "illegitimate" and claimed that it was "a special Russian special surgery - a new form of hybrid warfare against our people and our country". Many Georgians have deep -seated resentment against Russia, which overturned Georgia in 2008 and occupied around 20 % of its internationally recognized territory - a similar proportion as in Ukraine. Despite the recent Russian aggression against Georgia, the “Georgian Dream” has long been accused of having pro-Russian sympathy.

Reporting by CNNS Christian Edwards and Sophie Tanno.