Georgia’s president will not step down until ‘illegitimate’ election rerun
Al JazeeraDEC 2024
Republic of Georgia: Mikheil Kavelashvili Elected President
Above: Mikheil Kavelashvili reacts after being elected as Georgian's new president at the parliament in Tbilisi on Dec. 14, 2024. Image copyright: VANO SHLAMOV/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The government is protecting Georgia's sovereignty and reducing radicalism while maintaining a balanced approach between EU aspirations and practical relations with Russia. Kavelashvili best embodies the Georgian man and represents traditional Georgian values and legitimate institutional processes. Zourabichvili must stop harming Georgia's interests, and step aside respectfully.
Pro-establishment narrative
The ruling party is orchestrating a Russian-style authoritarian takeover, undermining democracy through rigged elections, violent protest suppression, and anti-Western legislation. Kavelashvili's election is illegitimate and a farce, a betrayal of Georgia's European aspirations and constitutional commitments, and an insult to Georgian traditions, history, and culture.