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Ex-Manchester City Striker Mikheil Kavelashvili, Known for Anti-Western Views, Elected President of Georgia Amid Protests

Dec 14, 2024, 11:42 AM

Former Manchester City striker Mikheil Kavelashvili has been elected as the new president of Georgia by a ruling party-dominated electoral college, receiving 224 out of 300 votes in a ballot boycotted by the opposition. Kavelashvili, aged 53, is known for his anti-Western and pro-Russian views, and his election marks a consolidation of power by the ruling Georgian Dream party. This is the first time in Georgia's history that the president has been selected by an electoral college rather than by popular vote. The outgoing pro-Western president, Salome Zurabishvili, has declared the vote illegitimate and has refused to step down. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for December 29. The election has sparked protests in the country and raised concerns about Georgia's EU aspirations.