It is expected that 53-year-old Mikhail Kavelashvili, a former footballer and right-wing populist, will take office as a representative of the "Georgian Dream" party.
According to Radio Free Europe, the inauguration is scheduled for December 29. However, against the backdrop of anti-government protests in the country, the current president Salome Zourabichvili, whose term ends this year, has stated that she will not resign.
"There will be no inauguration, and my powers continue," she declared.
The conflict between Zourabichvili and Kavelashvili has become the culmination of prolonged disputes over the country's political course. Zourabichvili, a diplomat with French roots, was elected president in 2018 and advocated for Georgia's integration into the EU. She gained popularity among progressive segments of the population by actively supporting protests that arose due to the suspension of Georgia's Euro-integration. At the same time, her relations with the ruling party "Georgian Dream" have deteriorated due to her criticism of the government's authoritarian tendencies.
Meanwhile, Mikhail Kavelashvili, who has transitioned from footballer to politician, represents a more conservative, anti-Western stance. He actively criticizes the "liberal" West and advocates for the strengthening of national values. His candidacy is supported by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of "Georgian Dream" and one of the wealthiest individuals in Georgia. Kavelashvili has long established himself as a political opponent of Western influences, gaining support in the rural regions of the country.
The political struggle between the two candidates reflects a deep divide in Georgian society. Many protesters support Zourabichvili, who claims that "the ruling party is currently very isolated." Nevertheless, Kavelashvili and the ruling party remain popular among certain segments of the population.
Source: Radio Free Europe.