Georgia: Mikheil Kavelashvili "Elected" President

On Saturday, December 14, presidential elections began in Georgia amid mass protests, Orda.kz reports, citing Newsgeorgia.

The sixth president became the candidate of the ruling party, "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia," a former member of parliament, Mikheil Kavelashvili.

Voting was from 09:00 to 14:00 (local time) in the country's parliament building. 

An electoral college of 300 voters has chosen the country's sixth president. The system has reduced the president's powers but increased his term to six years.

The Electoral College consists of:

• Parliament of Georgia - all 150 deputies.
• Supreme Council of Adjara - 21 members.
• Supreme Council of Abkhazia – 20 members.
• District sakrebulo - 109 deputies of municipal authorities of various country regions.

More than half of the college members must participate for the elections to be valid. At least two-thirds of the electors, or 200 votes, are needed to elect a candidate in the first round. The Electoral Commission has already declared them valid.

Georgian Dream nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, its only presidential candidate, former football player, and ex-deputy. 

The opposition refused to nominate candidates and declared a boycott, not recognizing the parliament formed following the October elections.

They say they will continue to consider Salome Zourabichvili the only legitimate representative of power until new parliamentary elections are called.

The inauguration and official inauguration of the new President of Georgia is scheduled for December 29.

Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the Georgian parliament in the morning before the start of the presidential elections. 

Security measures have been tightened, and police have been posted at all service entrances. 

The cordons also guard the square near the parliamentary palace on Rustaveli, where the capital’s main New Year tree and stage are located. 

In the evening, the mayor of Tbilisi is planning a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Original Author: Rimma Karatayeva