Germany Georgia's new president inaugurated
In the South Caucasus republic of Georgia, the new president Mikhail Kavelashvili has taken office in a festive ceremony in parliament despite weeks of protests. The 53-year-old took the oath on the Bible and the constitution in the capital Tbilisi. He swore to serve the interests of Georgia.
29.12.2024, 09:18
29.12.2024, 09:19
SDA
Meanwhile, the pro-Western head of state Salome Zurabishvili told supporters that although she was leaving the presidential seat, she was taking her legitimacy with her. She does not recognize Kavelashvili's election on 14 December and is calling for new elections with the support of mass protests.
Heads of state tend to perform representative tasks in the country, which also has a long border with Russia. "This parody that is now going on in parliament is a real parody that the country does not deserve," Zurabishvili said of the inauguration. Many supporters had expected the politician to stay in the palace and continue fighting.
Thousands outside the presidential residence
The ruling Georgian Dream party, which had nominated Kavelashvili, had threatened Zurabishvili with prison if she did not leave the official residence of the head of state in the center of the capital. Thousands of supporters gathered in front of the residence in the morning to support Zurabishvili. According to the media, there were initially no major protests against the inauguration at the parliament not far from the residence.
For weeks, thousands of people have been demonstrating daily for a return to the country's EU course and for a repeat of the parliamentary elections in October, in which the national-conservative ruling party Georgian Dream was declared the winner. Georgian Dream had put the country's EU accession negotiations on hold until 2028, triggering the protests.
Former center forward Kavelashvili has been a member of the Georgian parliament since 2016. Before that, he was a footballer for various clubs at home and abroad.
