**Georgia’s President Vote Sparks Crisis**
On December 14, Georgia’s single-party Electoral College voted for Mikheil Kavelashvili as president. This move has deepened the country’s political crisis, which started after the October 26 Parliamentary elections.
Many people, including opposition parties and civil society groups, believe that the vote was rigged. The Georgian Dream party, however, installed a single-party parliament before the legality of the vote was decided. Holding presidential elections while ignoring mass protests and police brutality is seen as an attempt to complete single-party rule.
Kavelashvili, nominated by Georgian Dream patron Bidzina Ivanishvili, ran unopposed without campaigning, as required by the Constitution. President Salome Zurabishvili called this process a “travesty” and refuses to leave office until a legitimate parliament is elected.
**International Reactions**
Several leaders from neighboring countries congratulated Kavelashvili on his election:
* Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan: praised the close ties between their peoples and expressed hopes for stronger bilateral relations.
* Aleksandar Lukashenka of Belarus: wished Kavelashvili success in his future activities, citing potential benefits to bilateral relations.
* Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia: looked forward to strengthening strategic partnership and advancing cooperation across all levels.
* Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia: congratulated Kavelashvili on his election and expressed confidence that he would fulfill his duties honorably.
However, some Western politicians took a different stance:
* Joe Wilson, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman: stated that Salome Zurabishvili remains the legitimate president of Georgia and called for new elections.
* Marko Mihkelson, Estonian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman: also recognized Zurabishvili as the only legitimate President of Georgia.
* Michael Roth, German Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committees Chair: described Kavelashvili’s election as a step towards the takeover of all constitutional institutions in Georgia.
**Continued Crisis**
The international community remains divided on the legitimacy of Kavelashvili’s presidency. The crisis is expected to continue, with many demanding new elections and a return to democratic processes.
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