Bidzina Ivanishvili Nominates Mikheil Kavelashvili for President of Georgia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, has put forward Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer and the member of the party's People's Power faction, as their candidate for the presidency. The announcement, made during a special briefing on November 27, has ignited discussion over Kavelashvili's qualifications, political stances, and lack of higher education.
Ivanishvili praised Kavelashvili as a figure who embodies "honesty, fairness, patriotism, and fidelity to principles," describing him as the ideal Georgian leader. "I am sure that Mikheil Kavelashvili will fully restore the temporarily stolen dignity to the presidential institute," Ivanishvili stated, emphasizing his confidence that Kavelashvili would focus solely on Georgia's interests and resist foreign influence.
Kavelashvili expressed his gratitude to Bidzina Ivanishvili for the "trust" and stated that his mission would be to restore the presidential institution to its "constitutional framework."
Kavelashvili is known for his blunt and often controversial rhetoric. As a co-founder of the People's Power party, he has been a vocal critic of Western influence in Georgia, frequently targeting the United States. In 2022, he accused former U.S. Ambassador Kelly Degnan of supporting efforts to draw Georgia into the Ukraine war. His party also played a key role in drafting the "foreign agents" law, which sparked significant public outcry earlier this year.
Kavelashvili has gained a reputation for his provocative statements in parliament, including a 2022 incident where he used profanity to disparage opposition MPs. Recently, he has also directed criticism toward President Salome Zourabichvili, accusing her of being influenced by unnamed global forces.
Beyond his political stances, Kavelashvili's lack of higher education has become a focal point of public debate. Official parliamentary records show that he has not submitted proof of any formal education. This issue first came to light in 2015 when he challenged a Georgian Football Federation's rule requiring its president to hold a university degree, arguing that such requirements were unfair and outdated.
