Parliament set as venue for Georgia's upcoming presidential inauguration

The upcoming inauguration of Georgia's next president is slated to occur in the nation's parliament building located in Tbilisi.

This announcement was made by Shalva Papuashvili, the speaker of the legislative assembly, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

Papuashvili explained that recent changes to the law were implemented to standardize the inauguration process, which had previously varied based on the preferences of the newly elected president. By establishing the parliament as the official venue, the government aims to align with the traditions of parliamentary republics. The inauguration is scheduled for the third Sunday following the presidential election, marking a significant occasion for Georgian society.

In addition to the inauguration, the presidential elections will also take place within the parliament. The Central Election Commission of Georgia will oversee the electoral process, and the parliamentary session hall will be transformed into a polling station to facilitate voting.

Salome Zourabichvili, who was inaugurated in 2018, is the fifth and most recent directly elected president of Georgia. Her inauguration was notable for being held in Telavi, at the historic palace of King Irakli II, breaking the precedent of previous presidents taking their oath in the parliament courtyard.

Zourabichvili’s term will conclude at the end of 2024, and the new president will be elected by a panel of 300 members — 150 from the newly elected parliament and 150 regional delegates. To secure a victory in the first round, a candidate must obtain 200 votes; if no candidate achieves this, a second round will ensue, where the top two candidates will compete for the presidency based on a simple majority.

The inaugural session of Georgia's newly elected parliament is set for November 25, with presidential elections expected to take place within 45 days following that date.

By Tamilla Hasanova