Anti-Western candidate from pro-government party elected president in Georgia – media
The presidential election in Georgia, held for the first time without a direct popular vote, resulted in the election of former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili, the sole candidate put forward by a pro-government party, as head of state.
Source: Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus), a Radio Liberty project, as reported by European Pravda
Details: According to the voting results, held for the first time through the electoral college, where the ruling party has an absolute majority, Kavelashvili was declared the winner with 224 votes in favour, while one ballot was spoilt.
Kavelashvili, 53, a former leader of the People's Power party – which formally split from the Georgian Dream ruling party – is known for his anti-Western stance. The Georgian Dream plans to hold his inauguration on 29 December.
Background:
- Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili and the opposition have declared that they will not recognise the legitimacy of the election process. A protest rally convened outside the parliament in the early hours of 14 December.
- Zurabishvili has refused to step down as president, leaving Western countries and Ukraine to determine whether to recognise the legitimacy of the new Georgian government.
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