Georgian lawmakers voted in a far-right former soccer star as the country's next president on Saturday, amidst mounting popular anger over the government's halt to EU accession talks. Mikheil Kavelashvili, 53, a former MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party and a former player for Manchester City, was the only candidate in the running.
The president was chosen not by a national election but in parliament by a direct ballot of a 300-member electoral college made up of MPs and representatives of local government. Due to opposition boycotts, Kavelashvili was virtually guaranteed to win, receiving 224 out of 225 votes.
Kavelashvili's upcoming presidency is expected to deepen tensions in Georgia between pro-Kremlin forces and pro-European Union protesters, who have been demonstrating in Tbilisi for the past 16 nights following the government's decision to halt talks on joining the EU.
Critics have raised concerns about Kavelashvili's qualifications for the role, citing his lack of political experience and education. His selection has been viewed by many as an insult to the country and a signal of opposition to Western values.
Georgia has been in crisis since a disputed election in October, with the ruling Georgian Dream party claiming victory despite allegations of electoral irregularities. The European Parliament has called for a rerun of the election.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the suspension of EU accession talks on November 28, despite widespread support in Georgia for joining the EU. This decision has further strained relations with the EU, which has criticized the government for authoritarian measures and pro-Russian stances.
Protests have been ongoing in Tbilisi since November 28, with demonstrators expressing their pro-EU sentiments despite facing violence from police and masked special forces. The interior ministry reported that over 150 officers have been injured during the protests.
As Georgia grapples with political turmoil and social unrest, the appointment of Kavelashvili as president signals a challenging road ahead for the country's democratic institutions and its aspirations for closer ties with the European Union.
