Georgian official asserts Zourabichvili's presidency ends December 29

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has stated that Salome Zourabichvili will cease to be the president of Georgia once the new leader takes office on December 29.

Papuashvili made this announcement amid the ongoing presidential election proceedings, which are taking place at the Parliament building, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

The voting will continue until 14:00, after which the Central Election Commission (CEC) will count the ballots and announce the winner.

The opposition, along with President Zourabichvili and several non-governmental organizations supporting her, have declared the current Parliament and the government it backs to be illegitimate. They argue that the incoming president will similarly be seen as illegitimate.

Papuashvili emphasized that the inauguration would take place on December 29 and, upon the new president’s swearing-in, Zourabichvili would no longer hold the office. He appealed to all involved not to undermine or sabotage the process, stressing that Zourabichvili had already overstepped constitutional norms, the law, and ethical boundaries.

Mikheil Kavelashvili, the only candidate running for president, is a former MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Kavelashvili is a founder of the People's Power party, known for being the main voice for anti-Western propaganda in Georgia.

The four main opposition groups have rejected Kavelashvili and have boycotted parliament, insisting that the elections held in October were rigged. 

Georgia's outgoing president, Salome Zourabichvili, has condemned Kavelashvili's election as a travesty, insisting she holds Georgia's only remaining legitimate institution.

By Vafa Guliyeva