Mikhaïl Kavelachvili, 53, a former international footballer, became Georgia’s new president following an indirect election on December 14, conducted by a 300-member electoral college dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Kavelachvili, who played for Manchester City and several Swiss clubs, transitioned into politics after retiring from football. A member of parliament since 2016, he co-founded the right-wing, nationalist, and anti-western People’s Power party in 2022. Backed by Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, Kavelachvili promotes traditional values and opposes Western influence.
This election marks the first time Georgia’s presidency is decided via indirect suffrage, amid opposition boycotts and ongoing political unrest. The use of an electoral college stems from constitutional reforms enacted in 2017, which transitioned the country from a semi-presidential system to a parliamentary system. These reforms were designed to reduce the powers of the president and strengthen the role of parliament and the prime minister in governance. Under the new system, the president’s role is largely ceremonial, with the president now being elected by a 300-member electoral college rather than by direct popular vote. This college includes members of parliament as well as regional and local government representatives.