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New Georgian president to be free from foreign influence — parliament speaker

According to Shalva Papuashvili, after the December 29 inauguration, Georgia will have a president focused on the country, its people, and respect for the constitution

TBILISI, December 13. /TASS/. Mikhail Kavelashvili, expected to be elected Georgia’s new president on December 14, will be free from foreign influence, unlike current President Salome Zourabichvili, the country's parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated.

"Mikhail Kavelashvili is a person whose love for the country is beyond doubt. This is particularly important in today’s world. For a country as small as ours, which is vulnerable to the conflicts happening in the region, it is crucial to have a president who will not fall under the influence of any foreign power. This is unlike Madame Salome [Zourabichvili], who takes direct orders from abroad," Papuashvili remarked.

According to him, after the December 29 inauguration, Georgia will have a president focused on the country, its people, and respect for the constitution.

Georgia will hold its presidential election on December 14. The country’s new president will for the first time be elected by an electoral college and not through a popular vote. Mikhail Kavelashvili, a former footballer and an ex-parliament member, is the only presidential candidate backed by the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party. The inauguration ceremony is set for December 29.

Georgia’s current President Salome Zourabichvili has been in conflict with the ruling party for a couple of years. Last year, the Georgian Dream party tried to impeach her over foreign trips not agreed with the government. Even though the Constitutional Court ruled that the president had violated the Constitution, the impeachment did not take place as the ruling party had failed to secure enough votes in parliament to support the move.

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