Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tbilisi as Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer and ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was sworn in as Georgia’s new president. His inauguration, held behind closed doors in parliament, has deepened the country’s political crisis, with outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili refusing to relinquish her position.
Zourabichvili, who has distanced herself from the ruling party, declared herself the “only legitimate president” during an address to protesters. “This building was a symbol only as long as a legitimate president was sitting here,” she said, vowing to vacate the presidential palace but denouncing her successor as illegitimate.
Kavelashvili, the sole candidate in the controversial election, praised Georgian traditions and values during his inaugural speech. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other party officials attended the event. However, opposition groups, accusing Georgian Dream of authoritarianism and electoral fraud, boycotted the inauguration.
The political unrest follows Georgian Dream’s decision to suspend its European Union accession bid until 2028, despite overwhelming public support for joining the EU. This move, coupled with the government’s refusal to sanction Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, has intensified public dissatisfaction. Critics argue that the party’s policies increasingly mirror those of the Kremlin, including restrictive laws targeting media, NGOs receiving foreign funding, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Zourabichvili, initially elected in 2018 with Georgian Dream’s endorsement, has become a vocal critic of the ruling party, describing their contested electoral victory in October as a “Russian special operation.” Her alignment with pro-EU protests underscores a growing divide between the government and the Georgian populace, 85% of whom back EU integration, as enshrined in the constitution.
Protests erupted in November after the government announced its decision to delay EU accession talks. Riot police used tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators, who retaliated with fireworks and stones. The unrest continued into Saturday, as thousands formed a human chain across Tbilisi, waving Georgian and EU flags in defiance of the government’s stance.
The political turmoil has drawn international attention, with the U.S. recently imposing sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream’s billionaire founder and a former prime minister. As the nation grapples with internal strife, the clash between its European aspirations and the ruling party’s actions raises concerns about Georgia’s democratic future and geopolitical alignment.
