Georgia’s President refuses to leave office as tenure ends, prepares for showdown
Georgia’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has sparked a constitutional crisis by refusing to vacate office as her six-year term officially ends.
The 72-year-old leader claims she is the last legitimate institution in the country, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of undermining democracy and aligning with Russia.
On Sunday, the government plans to install Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer, as her successor under an electoral college system Zourabichvili denounces as a “travesty.” Her resistance has drawn both praise and criticism as Georgia faces a growing political divide.
Born in France to a prominent émigré family, Zourabichvili has long championed Georgia’s independence from Russia and its integration with the West. Despite initially being endorsed by Georgian Dream, she has become a vocal opponent of the party’s authoritarian tendencies, aligning with pro-EU protesters and vetoing controversial bills.
The government has threatened legal action, warning she could face arrest if she continues to resist. However, her supporters argue that even if removed, Zourabichvili will remain a key figure in Georgia’s pro-European movement.
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As the political standoff intensifies, Zourabichvili frames the battle as a choice between “independence or slavery, Europe or Russia.” Her refusal to step down has already reshaped Georgia’s political landscape, with the outcome of this crisis likely to have far-reaching implications.
(Adapted from BBC, excluding headline)
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