Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer, has been elected as the new president of Georgia. Kavelashvili, who had an extensive football career including time with Manchester City and several clubs in the Swiss Super League, won the presidency easily, owing to the control of the ruling party, Georgian Dream, over the 300-member electoral college that replaced direct presidential elections in 2017.
Kavelashvili was elected to the Georgian Parliament in 2016 as part of the Georgian Dream list. In 2022, he co-founded the political movement “Strength of the People,” which, in alliance with Georgian Dream, became known for its strong anti-Western rhetoric.
Following the parliamentary elections in October 2024, which the opposition claims were rigged with the help of Moscow, Georgian Dream maintained control of the parliament. The outgoing president, Salome Zurabishvili, along with major pro-Western parties, has boycotted the parliament, demanding new elections.
While Georgian Dream has pledged to continue pursuing EU membership, it has also expressed a desire to “reset” relations with Russia. Critics of the party, including Zurabishvili, accuse Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian, a claim the ruling party denies.
Zurabishvili, who has held the presidency since 2018, stated she would remain in office until new elections are held, calling herself the legitimate leader of the country.
