2024 Georgian presidential election

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2024 Georgian presidential election
Flag of Georgia.svg
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300 members of the Electoral College
200 electoral votes needed to win
 
Mikheil Kavelashvili 2014.jpg
Candidate Mikheil Kavelashvili
Party People's Power
Electoral vote224 [1]
Percentage100%
Nominator Georgian Dream
President before election

Salome Zourabichvili
Independent

Elected President

Mikheil Kavelashvili
People's Power

Presidential elections were held in Georgia on 14 December 2024. [2] Following amendments to the constitution and Georgia's transition to the parliamentary republic in 2017, which led to the drastic reduction to the presidential powers, this was the first indirect vote where the president was elected through a 300-member College of Electors composed of the parliamentary, local and regional representatives. [3] Ruling party candidate Mikheil Kavelashvili was declared winner in the election. [4]

Contents

The 2024 presidential election was the first in the history of Georgia to have only one candidate from only one party on the ballot, a drastic reduction from 65 candidates at the last presidential election in 2018. [5] The election was widely disputed and regarded as illegitimate, largely due to allegations of electoral fraud associated with the concurrent parliamentary elections. These allegations have triggered widespread unrest and contributed to a broader political crisis in the country. Salome Zourabichvili, along with opposition parties and some of the international community, continues to assert her recognition as the legitimate President of Georgia. [15]

Background

Revision of presidential powers

The powers of the president have been limited as a result of the 2017 constitutional reform and Georgia's transition to the parliamentary model of government. The president no longer has power to conduct international negotiations with foreign countries. The president has reduced powers in wartime, as a decision on the use of the defence forces is to be made solely by the prime minister and it is be necessary for the president to obtain the prime minister's consent to declare martial law or a state of emergency; moreover, the National Defence Council – a consultative body to the president – has lost its permanent status, only be convened in times of martial law. [16] Although the President formally remained the head of state, the commander-in-chief, and representative in foreign relations, his/her role no longer included ensuring "the functioning of state bodies within the scope of the powers granted by the Constitution". The President has also lost the right "to request particular matters to be discussed at the Government session and participate in the discussion." [3]

Under a law passed in February 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, instead of the president, nominates and opens the competition for the election of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and its professional members. Parliament requires a three-fifths supermajority (90 votes) in the first round to elect candidates. If unsuccessful, a simple majority (76 votes) can be used in the next round, with two attempts allowed. If both attempts fail, the president gains the authority to appoint the CEC chairperson/member. The law also stipulates that CEC members serve a full five-year term, even if elected with a lower quorum. [17]

Presidency of Salome Zourabichvili

Despite being endorsed by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party during the 2018 presidential election and subsequently winning it, outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili has distanced herself from the governing party in the following years, which led to the President's inter-institutional conflict with the Second Garibashvili government and the Parliament. In at least two occasions, the Government banned the President from traveling abroad, preventing her from visiting Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and France. [18] In March 2023, the Government announced it would file two lawsuits with the Constitutional Court against the President over her decision to go on an unauthorized visit to Brussels and Paris and over her refusal to sign outright decrees appointing ambassador candidates nominated by the Government, [19] before dismissing the lawsuits several months later. Zourabichvili has increasingly used her veto power against the Parliament, including vetoing bills changing the composition of the National Bank of Georgia, and extending the scope and time limits for covert investigations, amongst other bills, [20] most notably the 'foreign agents' bill. [21]

President Salome Zourabichvili gives speech in the Orbeliani Palace, May 2024. Zourabichvili Speech 2024.jpg
President Salome Zourabichvili gives speech in the Orbeliani Palace, May 2024.

GD tried impeaching Zourabichvili with no success on 18 October 2023, when the Parliament failed to collect the 100 votes needed to impeach her. [22] In October 2024, the inter-institutional conflict escalated between the President and the Government. The President characterized the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election, which resulted in the Georgian Dream party’s victory, as “fraudulent” and deemed the newly elected parliament "illegitimate". She supported the post-election opposition protests and asserted her intention to remain president until new parliamentary elections were held upon the expiration of her term in December 2024. [23] [24] In response, the new Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that the President would be compelled to resign. [25]

Electoral system

2017 Constitutional changes

On 26 September 2017, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the constitutional amendments, which went into effect in December 2018, after the inauguration of Salome Zourabichvili as President. [26] [27] As a result of the constitutional reform, the direct election of the president by popular vote was abolished and replaced by a system of indirect election through an 300-member College of Electors, including all 150 MPs, all 20 representatives from the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic, all 21 members from the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, and 109 electors representing self-governance bodies, allocated to the parties in proportion to their support received in the local elections. The new electoral system is in place for this election and onwards. The president is elected without prior debate on the Parliament floor through open ballot. [3] [2]

The president will serve for a term of five years and can serve maximum two terms. The eligibility age for the president increased from 35 to 40. The residence requirements changed as well: a presidential candidate has to have lived in Georgia for at least 15 years. However, a candidate is no longer required to have lived in Georgia for the last three years before the election. [3]

Composition of the Electoral College

A group of at least 30 electors is required to nominate the presidential candidate to the Electoral College. Each elector is entitled to nominate and vote for only one candidate. 200 votes are required to elect the President. However, if no nominee manages to secure 200 votes, a second round is held between 2 candidates with the most votes. In the second round the candidate which gains more votes than the other one is declared as winner. [28]

Original

Delegation GD U–NM FG SG CfC APG GLP IndependentTotal
Local representatives 5439 [a] 94 [b] 1 [c] 110109
Abkhazia 000000020 [d] 20
Adjara 13421100021
Parliament 8916121419000150
Total156592319211120300
Source:

Final

In accordance with the opposition protests against the results of the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election and the parliamentary boycott by opposition parties, there were no local representatives or participants from the opposition in this election. Due to the opposition refusing to nominate its 55 local representatives to the Electoral College, these seats went to the Georgian Dream party, which allowed to increase its representation to 211 seats. [29]

Additionally, two members of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia joined the opposition boycott. [30] [31]

Delegation GD U–NM FG SG CfC APG GLP IndependentTotal
Local representatives 1090000000109
Abkhazia 000000020 [d] 20
Adjara 13421100021
Parliament 8916121419000150
Total211201415200020300

Date

On 26 November 2024, the Parliament of Georgia set the date of the election to 14 December. [33]

Candidates

On November 27, 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer and co-founder of People’s Power, as its candidate for the Presidency of Georgia. [34]

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s honorary chair, personally presented Kavelashvili as the nominee, emphasizing his distinguished career. Ivanishvili highlighted Kavelashvili’s achievements as a footballer who represented Georgia with honor, playing for Dinamo Tbilisi, Alania Vladikavkaz, Manchester City, and top Swiss clubs. He also described Kavelashvili’s habitus as embodying the ideal Georgian man, a principled patriot, devoted husband, and proud father of four. [35] [36]

Kavelashvili lacks a higher education degree, which barred him from running for Georgian Football Federation presidency in 2015. Mamuka Mdinaradze, Executive Secretary of GD, defended Kavelashvili's qualifications, arguing that love for one's country and basic competencies don't require a diploma, noting that many constitutions, including Georgia's, don't mandate higher education for public office. Mdinaradze criticized past leaders with degrees for failing to develop the country and expressed confidence in Kavelashvili as a non-partisan leader who would prioritize Georgia's interests, unify the nation, and avoid serving foreign agendas. [37] [38]

The nomination of Kavelashvili as the ruling party's presidential candidate has sparked strong criticism from opposition figures, who accuse the party's leadership of undermining democracy and disrespecting the Georgian people. Critics argue that the nomination discredits the country's democratic institutions, damages its relationships with the West, and label him as the "most prominent anti-Westerner." Some have also questioned Kavelashvili's qualifications and education, accusing the ruling party of pushing a divisive agenda that risks further isolating Georgia from its Western allies. Additionally, the opposition challenges the legitimacy of the parliamentary composition and the planned presidential election, with some describing it as unconstitutional and a betrayal of Georgian democratic traditions. [39] [40]

In response to these critiques, Salome Zourabichvili condemned the planned election as "illegitimate" and "unconstitutional," calling it a "travesty" with "no connection to any political process." She argued that the election was an insult to Georgian traditions, history, and culture, deeming it "unacceptable." [41]

Due to the opposition parties' boycott of the parliamentary election results, [42] no candidates were nominated by parties other than Georgian Dream, leaving Kavelashvili as the sole candidate for the presidency. [43]

Results

211 electors from the Georgian Dream and 14 from the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic participated in the election. [44] All supported the candidacy of Mikheil Kavelashvili, except the Supreme Council of Abkhazia member Ada Marshania. She criticized the electors and declared she would not vote for Kavelashvili. Her vote was counted as invalid. [45]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Mikheil Kavelashvili People's Power 224100.00
Total224100.00
Valid votes22499.56
Invalid/blank votes10.44
Total votes225100.00
Registered voters/turnout30075.00
Source: CNN

Reactions

Notes

  1. ↑ United National Movement got 36 electors, while European Georgia got 2 and Strategy Aghmashenebeli — 1.
  2. ↑ 4 electors from Lelo for Georgia.
  3. ↑ 1 elector from Girchi – More Freedom.
  4. 1 2 Deputies of Georgian Parliament elected from Abkhazia during the 1992 Georgian general election and the members of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic elected during the 1991 Abkhazian elections before the 1992–1993 separatist conflict have their seats reserved permanently before the new elections in the region to be held after restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity. [32]

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References

  1. ↑ Nominally uncontested; opposition parties did not participate in the vote
  2. 1 2 "Georgia's New President to be elected by 300 Voters on December 14". 1tv.ge. 26 November 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "New Constitution Enters into Force". Civil Georgia. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "The electoral college has elected Mikheil Kavlashvili to the position of president". Interpress News. 14 December 2024.
  5. ↑ “ოცნების” პრეზიდენტის არჩევნებში მხოლოდ ერთი კანდიდატი მონაწილეობს, Netgazeti: 14 December 2024
  6. ↑ "Georgia's president slams her successor's appointment as 'a mockery of democracy'". euronews . 15 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  7. ↑ "US Congressman Wilson: Zourabichvili remains legitimate president of Georgia". 1TV. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "Kavelashvili Is GD's Unilaterally Appointed Illegitimate President". Transparency International . Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "Georgia: Ex-footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili named president". BBC . Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Georgia Parliament elects pro-Russian Mikheil Kavelashvili as president". Le Monde . 14 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "Georgian opposition calls on EU to declare 'Ivanishvili regime' illegitimate". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "Only 'legitimate' parliament can elect my successor, says Georgia's president". TVP World. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "Georgian opposition call on EU to declare Georgian Government "illegitimate" amid ongoing public protests". agenda.ge. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  14. ↑ "Georgia ruling party installs loyalist president amid constitutional crisis, protests". Euractiv . 14 December 2024.
  15. ↑ [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
  16. ↑ "Observation of the presidential election in Georgia (28 October and 28 November 2018)". Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "Parliament Passes Amendments to CEC Staffing Rules". Civil Georgia . 20 February 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  18. ↑ Gabritchidze, Nini (23 June 2022). "Georgian president breaks with ruling party in bid to boost EU prospects". Eurasianet. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Georgian government to file lawsuit against president for allegedly violating constitution". JamNews. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "Georgian president to go on veto streak". Eurasianet. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  21. ↑ Rios, Michael (19 May 2024). "Georgian president vetoes 'foreign agents' bill after widespread opposition". CNN.
  22. ↑ "Georgian parliament fails to impeach President Zourabichvili". Interfax. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Georgia president calls parliament 'illegitimate', says will not step down". France 24. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  24. ↑ "Georgia president calls parliament 'illegitimate', says will not step down". France 24 . 30 November 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  25. ↑ Kirby, Paul (2 December 2024). "Georgia's PM Kobakhidze hits back as protests and resignations intensify". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  26. ↑ "Parliament Approves Constitution on Final Reading". Civil Georgia. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  27. ↑ "New Constitution Enters into Force". Civil Georgia. 17 December 2017.
  28. ↑ "პრეზიდენტის არჩევნები 14 დეკემბერს ჩატარდება". Radio Liberty (in Georgian). 26 November 2024.
  29. ↑ ""ქართულმა ოცნებამ", 224 ხმით, საქართველოს პრეზიდენტად მიხეილ ყაველაშვილი აირჩია". Sakartvelos Moambe (in Georgian). 14 December 2024.
  30. ↑ "ხმოსანი თემურ მჟავია "ოცნების" არალეგიტიმური პრეზიდენტის არჩევას ბოიკოტს უცხადებს" [Elector Temur Mzhavia is boycotting the election of the "Georgian Dream's" illegitimate president.]. Mtavari Arkhi (in Georgian). 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024. [I, a deputy of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, refuse to cooperate with the de facto authorities of Georgia and hereby announce my boycott of the presidential elections of Georgia scheduled for December 14 of this year.]
  31. ↑ ""მენტალურ რუსს ქვეყნის პრეზიდენტად ვერ ავირჩევ...არც ამ არჩევნების სამართლიანობას და მისი ლეგიტიმურობას ვიზიარებ" | ხმოსანი ზურაბ ჯგუბურია" ["I cannot elect a mentally Russian president... I do not recognize the justice or legitimacy of this election," said elector Zurab Jguburia.]. Mtavari Arkhi (in Georgian). 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  32. ↑ "აფხაზეთის ავტონომიური რესპუბლიკის უმაღლესი საბჭოს რეგლამენტში ცვლილების შეტანის შესახებ". Legislative Herald of Georgia (in Georgian). 29 February 2024.
  33. ↑ "Georgian lawmakers will pick a new president on Dec. 14". Associated Press. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  34. ↑ "GD Picks Former Football Player Mikheil Kavelashvili as Presidential Candidate". Civil Georgia . 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  35. ↑ "Ex-footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili nominated as Georgian ruling party's presidential candidate". JAMnews. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  36. ↑ Kincha, Shota (27 November 2024). "Georgian Dream nominates football player and outspoken critic of the West for president". OC Media . Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  37. ↑ "საჯარო წყაროების მიხედვით, მიხეილ ყაველაშვილს უმაღლესი განათლება არ აქვს". Publika (in Georgian). 27 November 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  38. ↑ "Mdinaradze on Kavelashvili: Love for Homeland Needs No Diploma". www.sakartvelosambebi.ge. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  39. ↑ "Opposition slams Kavelashvili's presidential nomination as a 'spit on the soul' of Georgia". FrontNews. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  40. ↑ "Georgian Dream names anti-Western ex-footballer as presidential candidate". www.intellinews.com. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  41. ↑ "President Zurabishvili Ridicules Kavelashvili's Planned Election, Asks Mayor to Move Christmas Event". Civil Georgia. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  42. ↑ "Georgia's opposition rejects election results, boycotts parliament". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  43. ↑ Kevanishvili, Eka; Kunchulia, Lela; Allnutt, Luke (13 December 2024). "The Bitter Standoff Over Georgia's Next President". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  44. ↑ ""ქართული ოცნების" პრეზიდენტი - მილოცვები პარლამენტში, ფეხბურთი და დიპლომები ქუჩაში". Radio Liberty (in Georgian). Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  45. ↑ "A member of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, Ada Marshania, addressed the "Georgian Dream" party, stating: You have harmed both Georgia and yourselves. I will not cast my vote for Mikheil Kavelashvili". www.interpressnews.ge. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  46. ↑ "Alexander Lukashenko congratulates Mikhail Kavelashvili on his election as President of Georgia". news.by. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  47. ↑ "Armenian PM congratulates Mikheil Kavelashvili on his election as President of Georgia". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  48. ↑ "President Khachaturyan congratulates Mikheil Kavelashvili on election as Georgia's President". Armenpress. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  49. ↑ "Ilham Aliyev congratulated Mikheil Kavelashvili on his election as the new President of Georgia". Rustavi 2 . Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  50. ↑ "Anti-Western Georgian president appointed by government receives invitation to visit Serbia". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  51. ↑ "US Congressman Wilson: Zourabichvili remains legitimate president of Georgia". 1TV. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  52. ↑ "Marko Mihkelson: The only legitimate president of Georgia is Salome Zurabishvili". www.interpressnews.ge. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  53. ↑ "MEP Rihards Kols: The 'Georgian Dream' regime has handed the presidency over to a former football player, Mikheil Kavelashvili—an anti-Western figure specifically chosen to mock the Georgian people". www.interpressnews.ge. 15 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  54. ↑ "MEP Rasa Juknevičienė deems Salome Zourabichvili as only legitimate official in Georgia". 1TV. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
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