Former Manchester City striker Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to become Georgia’s next president through an indirect election widely criticized as “illegitimate.”
The controversial appointment comes amid massive anti-government protests in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, over the ruling party’s decision to pause talks on joining the European Union.
Kavelashvili, 53, is a former professional footballer who played for Manchester City from 1995 to 1997, scoring on his debut against Manchester United. He transitioned to politics in 2016 and currently serves as a member of parliament for the ruling Georgian Dream party. Critics accuse him of being a “puppet” of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s founder.
The Georgian Dream party, which controls the electoral college, nominated Kavelashvili for the largely ceremonial presidential role. This nomination has sparked outrage among protesters who see it as an attempt to solidify the party’s grip on power.
Nika Gobronidze, a historian and protester, expressed his disapproval: “I can hardly imagine anyone less suited for the role of head of state. Caligula wanted his horse to be a consul; our oligarch wants his puppet Kavelashvili to be a president.”
Kavelashvili has faced criticism for his inflammatory speeches in parliament and harsh statements against LGBTQ people. He once accused Western nations of promoting “LGBTQ ideology” as an “act against humanity.”
His political career aligns with far-right ideologies. In 2022, he co-founded People’s Power, an anti-Western parliamentary faction viewed as a satellite of Georgian Dream.
Tbilisi has been gripped by two weeks of protests against the government’s actions, including its drift away from EU integration. Thousands have taken to the streets, calling for Georgian Dream to resign and organize new parliamentary elections.
The protests intensified after outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili denounced the upcoming presidential election as unconstitutional. Zurabishvili, a pro-EU leader, declared the government “illegitimate” and demanded a re-run of the October parliamentary elections, which opposition groups claim were rigged.
The election process, which abolished direct voting for the presidency in 2017, has been condemned by constitutional experts. Vakhtang Khmaladze, one of the drafters of Georgia’s constitution, labeled the process “illegitimate.”
Zurabishvili has vowed not to leave office on December 29, the end of her term, unless Georgian Dream organizes fresh elections. “This parliament and government are illegitimate,” she declared.
Born in Bolnisi, Georgia, in 1971, Kavelashvili began his football career in the 1980s, playing in Georgia and Russia before joining Manchester City. After his football career, he entered politics and has been a loyal figure within Georgian Dream.
