Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer who played for Manchester City in the 1990s, is poised to become Georgia’s next president following an indirect election. This development has sparked controversy, with the current pro-EU president denouncing the election as “illegitimate.”
Kavelashvili, who played as a forward for City between 1995 and 1997, has transitioned into politics, aligning himself with Georgia’s governing party, Georgian Dream. Known for his outspoken and often inflammatory speeches, Kavelashvili has been a staunch critic of the government, LGBTQ rights, and the West. His nomination to the largely ceremonial presidency follows a controversial 2017 constitutional change that replaced direct presidential elections with an electoral college system controlled by Georgian Dream.
This shift in the political landscape comes amid ongoing protests in Georgia, where demonstrators have criticized the government’s decision to halt EU accession talks. Critics view Kavelashvili as a “puppet” of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream, a claim that Kavelashvili himself has denied.
Born in Georgia’s Bolnisi region in 1971, Kavelashvili began his career in the 1980s, playing for clubs across Georgia, Russia, and Switzerland. His political career began in 2016 when he became a member of the Georgian Dream party. His recent election win, which many opposition groups deem rigged, reflects his far-right affiliations and anti-Western stance.
As Georgia faces a constitutional crisis with protests intensifying against Kavelashvili’s nomination, experts warn that his presidency will lack legitimacy. The current president, Salome Zurabishvili, has called for new elections to address the controversial parliamentary vote, which she believes was conducted improperly.
With a new era of governance on the horizon, Kavelashvili’s rise to power is set to shape Georgia’s future, with deepening divides between pro-EU forces and those favoring closer ties with Russia.
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