Former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili Declares Continued Presidency Amid Political Crisis
Former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, despite her term expiring in December, declared herself the head of state on Thursday and announced that she would continue to perform “presidential functions” from her new office in Tbilisi.
At a press conference, Zourabichvili emphasized the significance of her new office, describing it as an extension of the Orbeliani Palace, the official presidential residence. While acknowledging that the new location might not resemble the palace, she insisted that its “soul and spirit” remain intact, and that the president’s functions would continue from there.
Zourabichvili expressed concern over what she called a “deep crisis” in Georgia and suggested that the solution to the country’s political turmoil lies in holding new parliamentary elections. She also revealed plans to engage directly with the public, including a visit to Zugdidi in western Georgia on January 10.
Despite the inauguration of her successor, Mikheil Kavelashvili, as Georgia’s sixth president on December 29, Zourabichvili reaffirmed her position, stating, “I am the president, and I will remain the president.”
Kavelashvili’s inauguration followed the December 14 vote by a 300-seat electoral college, a process that replaced direct presidential elections in 2017. However, Zourabichvili rejected the legitimacy of the election results, particularly after the October 2024 parliamentary elections, which saw Georgian Dream secure an 89-seat majority in the 150-seat parliament.
This result, which she did not recognize, led her to boycott parliament sessions and assert herself as the sole legitimate president.
