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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has announced her decision to remain in office after her six-year term officially ends, claiming her stance is a resistance against what she views as the ruling Georgian Dream party’s monopolization of power.
The 72-year-old leader, a former diplomat, has accused the governing party of aligning with Moscow’s interests, warning that Georgia’s sovereignty is under grave threat.
Zourabichvili has also characterized the Georgian Dream’s recent electoral success as a “Russian special operation” and openly supported anti-government protests advocating for closer ties with the European Union.
Her replacement, under a modified electoral process, is slated to be Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer, selected through an electoral college heavily influenced by the ruling party.
Zourabichvili has condemned his appointment, calling it a mockery of democratic principles.
In an interview with Rest Is Politics, Zourabichvili declared, “Most important to know about Sunday is that for me because of this illegitimate elections and because of the unconstitutional way which the parliament was convened, twice it violated the constitution convening the parliament, this elections and hence, the inauguration of the president is not valid; so l remain president and I continue to do my job. That’s what everybody has to know.”
Her defiance has drawn sharp criticism from the government, which has warned that staying in office beyond her term would constitute a criminal act.
Zourabichvili’s family fled Georgia during the Soviet annexation in 1921. A century later, she has emerged as a staunch critic of what she sees as renewed threats to Georgia’s independence and its pro-Western trajectory.
She argues that if she is ousted, the ruling party will solidify its grip on power, jeopardizing the nation’s sovereignty.
