Georgia’s president will not step down until ‘illegitimate’ election rerun
Al JazeeraDec 01
Republic of Georgia: Mikheil Kavelashvili Elected President
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Above: Mikheil Kavelashvili reacts after being elected as Georgian's new president at the parliament in Tbilisi on Dec. 14, 2024. Image copyright: VANO SHLAMOV/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected president of Georgia on Saturday, receiving 224 out of 225 votes from an electoral college controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The election occurred amid nationwide protests following Georgian Dream's decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028, despite EU membership being part of Georgia's constitution.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The government is protecting Georgia's sovereignty and reducing radicalism while maintaining a balanced approach between EU aspirations and practical relations with Russia. Kavelashvili best embodies the Georgian man and represents traditional Georgian values and legitimate institutional processes. Zourabichvili must stop harming Georgia's interests, and step aside respectfully.
Pro-establishment narrative
The ruling party is orchestrating a Russian-style authoritarian takeover, undermining democracy through rigged elections, violent protest suppression, and anti-Western legislation. Kavelashvili's election is illegitimate and a farce, a betrayal of Georgia's European aspirations and constitutional commitments, and an insult to Georgian traditions, history, and culture.
