MICHAEL KAVEASHVLI, the Anti-Western Leader of Georgia, Has Breaking News!
Appointed as Georgia's president A senior member of the ruling Georgian Dream party and a former football player, Mikhail Kavelashvili is now the president of Georgia. Some have questioned the legality of the election process because it was performed by a 300-seat electoral college instead of directly by the voters on December 14, 2024.
Crucial Info
The Georgian Dream party's thumping hold on the electoral college gave Kavelashvili an easy victory despite being the lone candidate on the ballot. Opposition parties criticized this electoral procedure, which superseded direct presidential elections in 2017.
The United States has taken a strong diplomatic stance by refusing to acknowledge Kavelashvili's victory, stating that they have doubts about the validity of the election process and have heard charges of manipulation in past elections.
The major opposition parties have been saying that the elections held in October were rigged with Russian help, thus they have boycotted parliamentary sessions ever then. According to them, the election of Kavelashvili shows that the regime is becoming more autocratic.
His background includes a stint as a player for clubs like Manchester City, where he was known for his anti-Western views, before he entered politics. He was an early member of the Georgia anti-Western People's Power movement, which he helped form.
Following the government's recent decision to freeze EU admission discussions until 2028, the election of Kavelashvili is perceived as a setback for Georgia’s hopes to join the European Union. Many people who are in favor of remaining a member of the EU have taken to the streets in protest of this decision.
As a result of Kavelashvili's election, there were protests outside parliament. Protesters waved diplomas and kicked soccer balls, alluding to his football career, as a way to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. Salome Zourabichvili, the incumbent president who leans Western, has called the election fraudulent and is still widely believed to be the legal head of state.
In summary
The election of Mikhail Kavelashvili as president represents a watershed moment for Georgia, reflecting growing internal disagreements about the country's future agenda, which might take it closer to the West or back toward Russia. In ignoring his administration, the United States has shown its disapproval of Georgia's democratic procedures, which has heightened regional political tensions.