The lack of higher education of Georgia's only presidential candidate Mikhail Kavelashvili remains the topic of the day and is being discussed not only in the country but also by the foreign press.
The media say that nothing will prevent the Georgian Dream candidate from becoming the president of Georgia - neither lack of education, nor serious management experience, nor lack of any rating, nor opposition protests. The ruling party will quietly approve Kavelashvili through the Electoral College, while promising that he will become a “national president.”
Kavelashvili has never been among the country's top popular politicians, and his work history consists of two parts: a soccer career and a parliamentary career.
POLITICO: “Kavelashvili failed to run for president of the Georgian Football Federation in 2015 due to a lack of higher education, But now it seems this will not prevent him from becoming Georgia's next president.”
The Russian press emphasizes that Kavelashvili is a former Russian champion footballer.
The Georgian press notes Kavelishvili's anti-Western and aggressive statements, up to and including public foul language against opponents. In 2023, it was Kavelashvili's party that initiated the law on “foreign agents”, which brought thousands of people to the streets.
Political analysts point out that the choice of the candidate depended on the degree of his loyalty to Bidzina Ivanishvili, after the Georgian Dream got burnt with the rebellious fourth and fifth presidents - Margvelashvili and Zurabishvili.
“...presidents have been showing their mettle. Now they are trying at the third attempt to appoint someone who will definitely not cheat on them. Kavelashvili fits perfectly into these parameters - whatever they say, he will do. In their circles he is known as a loyal person,” said political analyst Ramaz Sakvaralidze.
“In a system where a cult of personality is formed, the personality of a presidential nominee is of no importance,” believes political scientist Gia Khukhashvili. In his opinion, Kavelashvili will never be an independent figure and the most important issue now is the return of the country to democratic rails and the authorities are doing everything to prevent this from happening.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that “for the last 20 years Georgia has not had a patriotic president” and Mikhail Kavelashvili will become one.
Unity-National Movement member Khatia Dekanoidze wrote on Facebook, “Ivanishvili has made the most prominent anti-Westerner as his president. A usurer, uneducated he especially berates the US/EU. This is his vision for the country and the people.”
Opposition parties criticizing Kavelashvili's appointment and calling him a “future illegitimate president” have not announced new large-scale rallies at this time. The protests are now being organized by civil movements and are linked to the trials of previously detained demonstrators.
Elections to be held by the Electoral College are scheduled for December 14. Mikhail Kavelashvili, who has been nominated by Georgian Dream, is the only candidate. The ruling party has a majority in the Electoral College and may eventually endorse Kavelashvili without the opposition. Salome Zurabishvili will lose her presidential status on Dec. 29, the day of Kavelashvili's planned inauguration.
Reprinted from https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/
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