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Georgia Holds Presidential Inauguration Amid Controversy
On December 29, Georgia held an inauguration ceremony for its new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili. The brief event took place in the parliament building and was attended by the party’s patron, Bidzina Ivanishvili. However, no foreign ambassadors were present, with the Georgian Dream party citing lack of space as the reason.
This move is seen as a further widening of Georgia’s deepening political divisions. Kavelashvili was elected president on December 14 after garnering all 224 votes from the college comprising of the all-GD legislature and local councilors. However, domestic and international actors have rejected his legitimacy, citing President Salome Zurabishvili as the only legitimate institution in the country.
In his inaugural address, Kavelashvili focused on the past and history of Georgia, praising its resilience and enduring spirit. He emphasized the importance of unity, mutual respect, and love for family and homeland. The president-elect also celebrated the Georgian language and culture, calling them a vessel for centuries of perseverance and cultural achievement.
Kavelashvili urged caution and foresight in addressing modern challenges, stressing the importance of learning from past mistakes and putting national interests first. He acknowledged the significant threats Georgia has faced and overcome through the unity of its people and state.
However, Kavelashvili’s address was criticized for lacking a vision or plan for the future. The president-elect spoke of the pain caused by conflicts that separated Georgians from their Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers and sisters, but did not mention Russia or Russian occupation in this context.
Despite the controversy surrounding his inauguration, Kavelashvili expressed confidence in healing the wounds of war and restoring the tradition of harmonious coexistence in a united and strong Georgia. He highlighted Georgia’s legacy of tolerance and humanity, noting that people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds have long considered Georgia their homeland and have often stood alongside Georgians to defend it.
Kavelashvili promised to be everyone’s president, regardless of their views or political affiliation. He vowed to consolidate and unite the society around their shared values and rules based on mutual respect.
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