Zurabishvili on the upcoming presidential appointment: There can be no inauguration
On Saturday evening, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili made an official statement that she does not intend to resign. She argues that the parliament, which is supposed to elect a new head of state in December, is “illegitimate.”
“There is no legitimate parliament, and, accordingly, an illegitimate parliament will not be able to elect a new president. Thus, there can be no inauguration. And my mandate continues until a legitimately elected parliament is formed,” Zurabishvili stated her position.
The President of Georgia, as well as representatives of the opposition, do not recognize the results of the parliamentary elections held on October 26. On November 19, she filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court demanding that the voting results be declared invalid. The period for considering the claim is 30 days. A similar claim was filed by 34 opposition deputies.
The ruling party and government deny accusations of mass fraud and claim that the elections were held in compliance with all democratic procedures.
Recall that Georgia is a parliamentary republic, in which real power is concentrated in the hands of the parliament and the prime minister, and the president has only formal powers. However, despite her limited functions, Salome Zurabishvili actively opposes the government and criticizes the actions of the ruling party. Being a supporter of the country's European course, she openly accuses the authorities of being "pro-Russian".
The statement by the reappointed Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on freezing the process of Georgia's European integration has caused mass protests in society. Thousands of rallies are being organized in Tbilisi, which are being brutally dispersed by special forces using physical violence. Newsgeorgia writes that on November 30, the largest number of people in recent days gathered in front of the parliament building - this is according to the data of the Egyptian cameraman and videographer Ez Gaber, who is filming with a drone.
