Mikheil Kavelashvili has been sworn in as Georgia’s new president because his pro-European predecessor refuses to recognize his legitimacy.
Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as Georgia’s president in a ceremony at parliament in the capital Tbilisi, amid weeks of protests and his pro-Western predecessor’s refusal to step aside.
Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili said in a defiant speech to hundreds of supporters outside the presidential palace on Sunday that she would leave the residence but remained the rightful incumbent.
“This parody that is currently being played in parliament is a real parody that the country does not deserve,” Zourabichvili said.
She added that Kavelashvili had not been properly selected because the deputies who elected him were elected in a parliamentary election in October that she said was tainted by fraud.
The pro-EU leader and protesters are calling for a new vote to replace the election in question.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the country’s electoral commission say October’s elections were free and fair.
Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former national footballer, took his oath on the Bible and Georgia’s constitution and vowed to serve the country’s interests amid a political crisis.
According to local media reports, there were no significant protests outside the parliament buildings during Kavelashvili’s swearing-in.
Duly elected president
The ruling party, which controls parliament, also describes Kavelashvili as the duly elected president.
The Georgian Dream party had threatened Zurabishvili with prison if she refused to leave the presidential residence in central Tbilisi.
The Georgian Dream-led government froze EU accession negotiations, leading to large protests.
Opponents of the “Georgian Dream” accuse him of steering Tbilisi towards Moscow and not towards the Caucasus country’s long-standing goal of joining the EU.
