Political instability looms in Georgia as the ruling party, Georgian Dream, prepares for mid-December presidential elections to replace Salome Zurabishvili, who is accused of constitutional violations. Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former football player with anti-Western views, has been chosen as the candidate, raising concerns about a potential shift away from Western alliances. The opposition is boycotting the election process, claiming the parliament lacks legitimacy, and discussions about forming a counter-parliament are underway.
Political Turmoil in Georgia: Presidential Elections on the Horizon
The ruling party in Georgia, known as the Georgian Dream, is racing against time to replace its presidential opponent, Salome Zurabishvili. With her term coming to an end, the party has announced that presidential elections are set for mid-December. The ruling party claims that Zurabishvili has breached the constitution by aligning herself with opposition forces. Meanwhile, the opposition refuses to acknowledge the results of the most recent parliamentary elections, citing well-documented instances of manipulation, and consequently disputes the Georgian Dream’s authority to choose the next president.
Mikheil Kavelashvili: The Ruling Party’s New Choice
On Wednesday, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the Georgian Dream, revealed his pick for Zurabishvili’s successor: Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former professional football player with a notable career in the Swiss Super League, having played for clubs like FC Zurich and Basel. Ivanishvili extolled Kavelashvili’s qualities of honesty, loyalty, and patriotism, dubbing him the “best embodiment of the Georgian man.” Kavelashvili is expected to shield the presidency from foreign influences and restore its lost dignity.
However, the opposition views Kavelashvili’s nomination as a direct affront. The 53-year-old ex-athlete is known for his outspoken criticism of Western influence in Georgia, particularly regarding the United States, often using blunt and provocative language. He played a significant role in the controversial “Transparency” or “Agent Law,” which mandates non-commercial organizations to disclose foreign funding. This legislation sparked widespread protests earlier this year, with many critics labeling it as a Russian-inspired initiative targeting influential civil society groups.
Two years ago, Kavelashvili distanced himself from the Georgian Dream by founding his own party, the Power of the People, citing a stifling environment for his freedom of speech within the ruling party. Despite his departure, Ivanishvili appears to have forgiven Kavelashvili, as he maintains a similar anti-Western stance that aligns closely with the ruling party’s views. Kavelashvili was re-elected as part of the Georgian Dream in the recent parliamentary elections.
Ivanishvili’s choice of Kavelashvili as the next president signals a troubling trend for the opposition and Western observers alike. The candidate’s political stance suggests a potential drift away from the West and an entrenchment of an authoritarian regime. Critics are also raising concerns about Kavelashvili’s lack of higher education qualifications.
This forthcoming election will be a departure from past practices, as the new president will not be directly elected by the populace. Instead, an electoral body, comprising representatives from regional and local political structures alongside parliamentary members, will cast their votes. The Georgian Dream holds a majority in this body, which all but guarantees Kavelashvili’s ascension to the presidency.
The opposition, however, is not willing to accept this outcome. They are boycotting parliamentary activities, and three out of four opposition platforms have successfully annulled their electoral lists, opting out of the presidential election process. There are discussions about forming a counter-parliament, as they believe that the incoming president will lack legitimacy due to the controversial nature of the parliament’s election.