Georgia’s New President Mikheil Kavelashvili (Irakli Genedidze/Pool Photo via AP)
Khethukuthula Mthembu
(The Post News) – Mikheil Kavelashvili hung his soccer boots in pursuit of political aspirations, the newly elected president of Georgia has been sworn into office amid the ongoing political unrest.
Thousands of protesters gathered in the streets of Tbilisi joined by the outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili to oppose Kavelashvil, becoming president with claims of illegitimacy.
Salome Zourabichvili has publicly refused to acknowledge the incoming presidents legitimacy.
Zourabichvili has been vocal in criticising the leadership of Georgian Dream political party, stating that the presidency legitimacy is leaving with her, and the incoming president was not duly picked. She further added that “I cannot in good conscience endorse an administration that has turned its back on democracy”.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, who had a short stint playing for Manchester City during his professional soccer days, has stated continuously voiced his distrust concerning Western intelligence agencies claiming that foreign influence will drive Georgia into war with Russia.
Georgia’s citizens on the streets of Tbilisi and neighboring major cities rallying against the newly elected government representative. Protesters have denounced Kavelashvili’s president. Human rights activists have spoken out against the police force, citing brutality in their efforts to disperse crowds.
The illegitimacy claims against the incumbent president Mikheil Kavelashvili pose challenges for Georgia’s political landscape, and there is a possibility that these issues might deepen.
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