Georgian President refuses to resign after her mandate expires

Salome Zourabichvili. Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who supported the protests in the country, has said she would not resign from office after her term expires and announced her intention to “be the head of political processes.”

Source: Zourabichvili’s address to the Georgian people, cited by Pirveli Georgian TV channel, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Georgian president justified her decision by stating that “no legitimate parliament” in Georgia could elect her successor.

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Quote from Zourabichvili: “My mandate will be valid until there is a legitimately elected parliament that will legitimately elect someone to replace me. I will be with you.”

Salome Zourabichvili also added that on Sunday, she would meet with representatives of the public and political parties.

Quote from Zourabichvili: “Together, we are managing the political process that you are managing outside, on the streets and in different spheres of society. Together, we will do the work, we will imagine the future that we will soon achieve through the new elections.”

Zurabishvili’s term of office expires in December 2024. For the first time, her successor will be elected not by direct vote but by 300 people, including 150 members of parliament, 20 representatives of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, 21 representatives of the Supreme Council of Ajara, and 109 delegates from local governments.

Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has nominated former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili as its presidential candidate.

It is also worth noting that the Georgian opposition does not recognise the results of the parliamentary elections, which, according to official figures, were won by the ruling party, and is boycotting the work of the newly convoked parliament.

Background: 

• On Saturday, protests resumed in Georgia against the Georgian Dream’s decision to abandon negotiations on joining the European Union.
• The protests took place at several locations in Tbilisi, including near the Georgian parliament and the building of Georgia’s Pirveli TV Channel.
• In addition to Tbilisi, protests are taking place in Batumi, Zugdidi, Kutaisi and Telavi; demonstrations are planned in Kvareli and Gurjaani.

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