Georgia’s President Accuses Successor of Illegitimacy and Calls for Fresh Elections
Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU figure, stated she is not calling for a revolution but insists that the recent elections were rigged.
After being sworn in as Georgia’s president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer, emphasized the importance of peace for the country’s development.
However, Zourabichvili, the outgoing president, labeled her successor as illegitimate and is demanding new elections.
Zourabichvili, who opposes the ruling party and champions EU values, expressed her concerns about the new presidency’s legitimacy in a speech outside the presidential palace.
She stated, “We are not asking for a revolution. We are requesting new elections to ensure the people’s will is not manipulated or stolen once more.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the parliamentary elections, leading to public protests and allegations of favoring Russia.
The opposition parties, aligned with Zourabichvili, have boycotted parliament and insist she remains the legitimate president until fresh elections are held.
Zourabichvili departed with a strong message, “I am taking the legitimacy, the flag, and your trust with me.”
The EU expressed concerns about the election process in Georgia, stating an uneven playing field and a polarized campaign atmosphere.
The EU’s vocal opposition to Georgian Dream and support for the protesters have led to claims of covert Western backing for the demonstrations.
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, proposed talks on suspending Georgia’s EU membership process due to authoritarian policies pursued by Georgian Dream.
She highlighted the regression instead of progress and mentioned the suspension of support projects and potential sanctions.
The complicated political landscape in former Soviet republics in 2024 also saw elections being annulled in Romania, where a right-wing populist’s victory was overturned by the top court.
The pro-European center-left coalition won a confidence vote in the Romanian parliament, marking significant political shifts in the region.
Reuters, The Associated Press, Adam Morrow, and Chris Summers contributed to this report.
