Ruling party’s presidential candidate pledges to “restore” institution’s “integrity”, “unite public”

Mikheil Kavelashvili, the ruling Georgian Dream party’s candidate for the presidency, on Wednesday promised to “restore” the institution's “reputation”, which he claimed had been “damaged” under the tenure of incumbent President Salome Zourabichvili, and vowed to focus on reducing “public divisions” and “fostering unity”.

Expressing gratitude to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair and founder of the GD, and the party for his nomination, Kavelashvili criticised Zourabichvili for her “violations of the Constitution”, in reference to the Constitutional Court ruling last year which determined Zourabichvili had breached the country’s Constitution by conducting unauthorised working visits to Europe.

Of course, I am aware of the great responsibility of the position, especially in the context where, unfortunately, the current President has directly insulted and ignored our main document, the Constitution of Georgia, and continues to violate it to this day”, he said. 

The presidential candidate highlighted the need to “return the institution to its Constitutional role as a unifying force”. 

This is precisely why our society is divided. Radicalisation and polarisation are fuelled, particularly with the help of our ill-wisher friends. Therefore, one of the main goals and missions will be to return the institution of the President to the Constitutional framework. The President of Georgia must be a non-partisan, unifying figure for society”, he noted. 

Kavelashvili also pointed out the importance of “overcoming divisions” and “fostering unity”. 

Hatred truly divides and antagonises people. On the contrary, love is what unites us”, he said, adding, “I deeply love my homeland, my country, and I promise to do everything in my power to unite Georgian society, protect our national interests, our identity, and our values, and to rally society around the idea of Georgia's independence”. 

Georgia’s presidential election, set for December 14, will be conducted indirectly for the first time in the country’s history. 

An electoral college of 300 members, including parliamentarians and representatives from regional councils, will select the nation’s sixth president.

To win in the first round, a candidate must secure at least two-thirds of the college’s votes. If no candidate achieves this threshold, a runoff will be held. 

The winner will serve a five-year term, with the inauguration scheduled for December 29.